Team GB Skier's Graphic Snow Protest Targets US Immigration Agency
Winter Olympics athlete Gus Kenworthy has launched a highly visible protest against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, using snow as his canvas to deliver a graphic political message just days before competition begins in Milano Cortina.
Olympic Athlete's Instagram Campaign Against ICE
The 34-year-old freestyle skier, who will represent Team GB in the half-pipe event, posted photographs on Instagram showing the words "Fuck Ice" written in snow, accompanied by a lengthy caption urging political action against the controversial agency. Kenworthy's protest comes at a particularly sensitive time, as ICE agents are currently in Milan providing security for US Vice President JD Vance during the Olympic opening ceremony.
"Innocent people have been murdered, and enough is enough," Kenworthy declared in his social media post. "We can't wait around while ICE continues to operate with unchecked power in our communities."
Call for Political Action and Accountability
Kenworthy's Instagram statement included specific demands for legislative action, urging Americans to contact their senators to:
- Establish clear limits on warrantless arrests and profiling
- End what he described as "blank-check funding for brutality"
- Remove ICE and Customs and Border Protection from communities
- Create accountability measures for enforcement activities
The athlete specifically highlighted concerns about enforcement at sensitive locations including schools and hospitals, arguing that "real guardrails and accountability" must be implemented immediately.
Olympic Charter Rules and Social Media Loophole
Despite Rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter prohibiting political demonstrations at Olympic venues, Kenworthy will face no disciplinary action because his protest occurred on social media rather than at official Olympic sites. An International Olympic Committee media spokesperson confirmed that "the IOC does not regulate personal social media posts" under current athlete expression guidelines.
Kenworthy followed his initial protest with another Instagram post on Friday morning, humorously describing his first message as "pee" and his subsequent photo collection as "a lil' dump." He added self-deprecatingly: "Yes, I am a child."
Kenworthy's Complex International Background
The skier's protest carries additional significance given his personal history. Born in Chelmsford but moving to Colorado at age two, Kenworthy previously competed for Team USA in the 2014 and 2018 Winter Olympics before switching allegiance to Team GB for the Beijing Games, where he finished eighth. He continues to reside in the United States while representing Britain internationally.
This isn't the first time Kenworthy has used his platform for political commentary. Before the 2022 Beijing Games, he publicly criticised China's human rights record and treatment of LGBTQ+ communities, demonstrating a consistent pattern of athlete activism.
Team GB's Response and Olympic Context
While Team GB declined to comment directly on Kenworthy's Instagram activity, sources indicate the organisation isn't concerned about the posts. Officials reportedly view the content as personal opinion unrelated to Olympic competition, noting that Kenworthy carefully avoided invoking Team GB in his political statements.
The protest occurs as athletes navigate increasingly complex relationships between sports, politics, and personal expression during global sporting events, with social media providing new avenues for commentary that bypass traditional Olympic venue restrictions.
