Gus Kenworthy: From Olympic Medals to Hollywood Dreams—With a Side of ‘Maybe’
Gus Kenworthy, the silver medal-winning Olympic freestyle skier turned actor, has recently opened up about the challenges of transitioning from the slopes to the silver screen. While appearing on the *Who’s the A——? with Katya* podcast, Kenworthy, 33, candidly admitted that acting is “really hard.” The athlete has tried his hand at roles in projects such as *American Horror Story: 1984* and *80 for Brady*, but he acknowledges that mastering the craft is no walk in the park. “When you’re in the moment [on set], it’s definitely, like, particularly hard,” he shared, emphasizing that unlike sports, where age can limit your peak performance, acting offers more longevity.
Kenworthy also touched on the financial realities athletes face—despite their Olympic accolades, they often struggle to make ends meet. He explained that while medalists receive modest monetary awards, they are taxed heavily and often find themselves juggling multiple jobs to sustain their training. In stark contrast, some countries provide financial support for their athletes, a luxury that U.S. Olympians largely lack, leading to a common narrative of athletes working part-time jobs to support their Olympic dreams.
Adding a humorous twist to the conversation, host Katya joked about the possibility of Kenworthy entering the adult film industry. His response? “That was like a ‘No no no,’ and now I’m like, ‘Maybe,’” showcasing his sense of humor about the often serious nature of career transitions. He also expressed a desire to act or host, emphasizing that while he’s open to sports commentary, he doesn’t want to be pigeonholed into that role.
Kenworthy, who came out as gay in 2015 and became one of the first openly gay athletes in action sports, also stressed the importance of representation in sports. In a 2018 interview with *Gay Times*, he stated, “It’s more important than ever to have representation and visibility because it will inspire the next generation.” His journey reflects not just a shift in careers but also the evolving landscape of LGBTQ+ representation in athletics, which continues to inspire many.
With his sights set on Hollywood, it seems that Kenworthy is not just leaving the slopes behind but is determined to carve out a space for himself in the entertainment industry—one ‘maybe’ at a time.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, Olympics.com, Gay Times
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