A striking image emerged from the lead-up to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy: freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy, representing Great Britain, etched a defiant message into the pristine snow.
The message, stark and explicit, read “f*ck ICE,” a direct expression of his opposition to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Kenworthy documented the act, sharing a photograph on his social media channels as the Games in Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo prepared to begin.
This wasn’t merely a spontaneous act of protest. Kenworthy immediately leveraged his platform, urging his followers to actively oppose ICE and contact their senators regarding ongoing Department of Homeland Security funding negotiations.
He provided a detailed script for his audience, a call to action demanding accountability and limitations on ICE’s power. The script highlighted concerns over unchecked authority, brutality, and enforcement practices within communities.
Kenworthy’s demonstration resonated with broader protests already unfolding in Milan. Demonstrators marched with banners echoing his sentiment – “ICE out” and “F*ck ICE” – protesting the presence of ICE agents providing security at the Olympic venues.
Remarkably, despite the overt nature of his protest, the International Olympic Committee opted not to punish Kenworthy. A loophole in Rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter, which prohibits political demonstrations within official Olympic sites, allowed for the action as it occurred outside those boundaries and was disseminated through personal social media.
This isn’t the first time Kenworthy has intertwined his athletic career with activism. Born in England but raised in Colorado, he previously competed for the United States in two Winter Olympics.
In 2022, he switched allegiance to Great Britain, finishing eighth in Beijing, and used that platform to openly criticize China’s human rights record, specifically its treatment of the LGBT community. His history demonstrates a consistent willingness to use his visibility to advocate for his beliefs.
Kenworthy’s actions sparked conversation and debate, highlighting the increasing intersection of sports and social activism on a global stage. The image of his message in the snow became a potent symbol of resistance and a call for change.
