Gus Kenworthy comes back from retirement to Olympic skiing after acting break and painful Beijing 2022 crash

Gus Kenworthy did not think he would be back here. But now, at 34, Gus Kenworthy is officially heading to the Winter Olympics once again. The British-born freestyle skier is coming out of retirement to compete for Team GB at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. This comes four years after he stepped away from skiing following a tough crash at the Beijing 2022 Games. At that time, Gus Kenworthy chose to focus on acting and appeared in the Emmy Award-winning TV show American Horror Story.Now, just weeks before the Games, Team GB has confirmed his place. The decision ends months of quiet training, late-night travel, and a fast comeback that very few thought was possible. Kenworthy’s return to competition began on December 11. In a short time, he climbed to ninth in the world rankings. He competed at World Cup events in China, the United States, and Canada. Those results proved he was ready again. On Monday, he received the call that made it official. This will be his fourth Olympic Games, and one of the most emotional moments of his long career.

Gus Kenworthy’s Olympic comeback, world rankings rise, and Team GB selection explained

Gus Kenworthy was born in Chelmsford, England, before moving to Colorado when he was two years old. He first made Olympic history by winning silver in slopestyle at the 2014 Sochi Games while skiing for the United States. He later competed at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, where he became a global figure after a live TV moment with actor Matthew Wilkas before his run.After those Games, Kenworthy chose to represent Team GB to honor his British mother. He retired after the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics following a heavy fall during poor weather conditions in the men’s halfpipe event. Last year, he quietly decided to try again.His comeback included World Cup finishes at Secret Garden in China, Copper Mountain in the United States, Calgary in Canada, and Buttermilk in Colorado. Those results pushed him back into the world’s top ten. On Monday, Team GB head coach Pat Sharples personally called Kenworthy to share the news.Sharples said, “You will get your official letter, but I wanted to be the first one to congratulate you for being selected to Team GB for the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympics.”He added, “Fair play, man. You pulled it off. I said the only person who could do it in that time would be you, and you did it. Not half-heartedly. You smashed it. Huge congrats. Good luck at the X Games. Keep yourself healthy.”The moment was shared on Instagram, where Kenworthy has over 1.2 million followers. The video aired just days before he competes at the X Games in Aspen.On social media, Kenworthy proudly calls himself “your gay friend’s favorite snowboarder,” a line fans around the world know well. Now, his focus is clear. Gus Kenworthy is heading back to the Olympics, once again wearing Team GB colors.