Kenworthy wants to compete in all three free ski disciplines, slopestyle, big air and halfpipeGETTY MAGES
The Int'l Ski Federation approved Silver Medal-winning freeskier Gus Kenworthy's request to switch to Team Great Britain ahead of the '22 Beijing Games, making him the most commercially prominent Olympian to change countries after medaling for Team USA. Kenworthy wants to compete in all three free ski disciplines -- slopestyle, big air and halfpipe -- and that would have been difficult to impossible for the very deep Team USA. Also, he and his agent Michael Spencer have had disagreements with U.S. Ski & Snowboard over their training regimen. Kenworthy in a statement said, "This is a great opportunity for me to start again and compete in three events in 2022." GB Snowsport CEO Vicky Gosling said the organization wanted "assurances" from Kenworthy, who has developed a robust acting, modeling and endorsement career. "We have met with Gus numerous times and found that we are completely on the same page," Gosling said. "Gus understands that we have an incredibly talented squad and that means places are competitive."
FINDING A HOME: Kenworthy, who grew up in Colorado, is eligible to switch under FIS rules because he holds a U.K. Passport and was born in Chelmsford, U.K., to a British-born mother. Nation-switching is not uncommon in the Olympics, but only one American (sailor Rod Davis) has ever competed in a Games for another country after medaling for the U.S. Speedskater John-Henry Krueger switched to Hungary after the Pyeongchang Games, so he and Kenworthy could become the second and third in '22. Kenworthy in '18 was a featured personality on NBC Sports' coverage, and his long list of sponsors included 24 Hour Fitness, Atomic, Chobani, Comcast, Deloitte, Monster, Procter & Gamble/Head & Shoulders, Ralph Lauren, Samsung, Smith, Toyota, United and Visa.
