Page 18 - ATD 23OCT,2015
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SPORTSFriday 23 October 2015
Skier comes out tain town with about 2,000 In this Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015, photo, Gus Kenworthy, a freestyle skier who won a silver medal
residents and only 50 kids in Sochi, poses in his home in Denver.
Continued from page 17 in the school gives a boy
who knows he’s gay few Associated Press
Because he wasn’t ready, places to hide. He threw
the journey to Sochi was far himself into skiing to show ry and so he lied again: and the government’s law “We admire Gus for hav-
less perfect than it could’ve he was every bit as tough Couldn’t be happier. against gay “propagan- ing the strength to tell the
been for the 24-year-old and brave as anyone else. Truth was, he was nothing da,” Kenworthy has be- world who he is as a per-
from Telluride, Colorado, But there was no deny- more than a casual fan of come more assured about son, and paving the way
who on Thursday, in inter- ing he felt conflicted. He Cyrus, and the person who who he is, both on and off for others to do the same,”
views with The Associated spoke of severe depres- did most of the hard work the slopes. He has won a said Tiger Shaw, the CEO of
Press and ESPN The Maga- sion, thoughts of suicide, with the dogs — including title on the Dew Tour, more U.S. Ski and Snowboard As-
zine, revealed to the public the internal battle of how staying behind in Russia for World Cup podiums and sociation.
that he is gay. to “live authentically and more than a month to get had a legitimate chance While the locker-room at-
He joined other high-profile not feel like I need to hide them back to the United at the overall champion- mosphere of football or bas-
athletes, including football anymore.” States — was his boyfriend ship last season until a leg ketball doesn’t exist in free-
player Michael Sam, re- Heading into the biggest at the time. and knee injury ended style skiing, it is still a sport
cently retired NBA player ski contest of his life, he “He got zero credit and I things early. built on a certain brand of
Jason Collins and Los An- wasn’t all the way there. was getting asked about it Relegated to the gym for devil-may-care machismo.
geles Galaxy soccer player He hadn’t told his par- on every show and in every months of rehab, he finally How will a gay skier be re-
Robbie Rogers, to come ents, or his brothers. And interview,” Kenworthy said. had the time to crystalize ceived among this cadre
out. though he had let himself Much as the label “Dog his feelings about whether of daredevils?
“I felt like I was already be- get caught up in the idea Guy” stuck with him long he was ready to tell the For a man who makes a
ing so courageous with my of a celebratory kiss with after Sochi, Kenworthy is world who he really is. living catapulting off of
body and my actions and his boyfriend at the bottom aware he could be cast, He said he likes the idea of 70-foot-high ramps, this is a
the things I was doing in or- of the hill, and the many too simply, as the “Gay Ski- coming out while he’s at very different sort of leap.
der to try to win and be the messages it would send, he er.” the top of his game, while “I don’t know what the fu-
best,” Kenworthy said at his knew it couldn’t happen. But in the 20 months since people in his sport — espe- ture has in store,” Kenwor-
home in Denver. “Then, I “The idea of kissing my boy- his trip to Russia, where de- cially kids — are paying at- thy said, “but I’m kind of
was being such a coward friend at the bottom of my bate raged over gay rights tention. looking forward to it.”q
in this other way, where I run would’ve been, in ad-
wouldn’t let anyone know. dition to me coming out,
So they were battling each a silent f--- you to the anti-
other. I’m excited where gay legislature in place in
those two things can go Russia,” he said.
hand in hand.” Instead, his post-victory
As young as age 5, Ken- tour involved him being
worthy felt he was differ- portrayed as the pet-loving
ent. Growing up in a moun- heartthrob who brought
Olympic glory to his home
country. Typical of winning
athletes who go on their
post-Olympic interview
tours, he faced questions
about much more than just
skiing.
Who is your celebrity
crush? Miley Cyrus, Ken-
worthy lied.
How do you feel about
saving all those dogs? He
couldn’t tell the real sto-
