Gus Kenworthy
Gus Kenworthy

I hope that any gay kids see me as beacon of light, not just in sport but in general.

Gus Kenworthy
Gus Kenworthy

You can be gay and be proud of that and not have to worry about being unsuccessful or unaccepted.

Gus Kenworthy
Gus Kenworthy

If everyone could see everyone else the way their mom saw them, it would be a much better place for all of us.

Gus Kenworthy
Gus Kenworthy

When you're able to love and appreciate and take pride with yourself, that makes everything easier. It makes it easier to train, it makes it easier to be in the gym, and it makes it easier for everyone else to accept and love you.

Gus Kenworthy
Gus Kenworthy

I'm putting in the time to make sure that my body is ready to compete at the top level.

Gus Kenworthy
Gus Kenworthy

Figure skating, especially the longer performances, are such a feat. It requires so much stamina and is so beautiful.

Gus Kenworthy
Gus Kenworthy

Jet lag is tough, to be honest. For me, it's much easier to force yourself to stay awake.

Gus Kenworthy
Gus Kenworthy

I didn't even ski halfpipe until I was 14 because the resort where I lived didn't have one. So it wasn't always my favorite event, but I grew into it.

Gus Kenworthy
Gus Kenworthy

I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it being found out, it was a distraction.

Gus Kenworthy
Gus Kenworthy

I don't listen to music when I ski - I find it distracting - but I will sing to myself before I go to just get my mind out of what I'm doing and relax a little bit.

Gus Kenworthy
Gus Kenworthy

I've gotten a lot of messages from kids struggling with their identity and sexuality, whether it's because they're in a religious family or a small town or a sport that's not very accepting. I've had a ton of outreach, and I've tried to get back to kids as best I could.

Gus Kenworthy
Gus Kenworthy

I always felt like I had something to prove, like I had to work twice as hard to make sure I got it. I knew I didn't want to be a good skier. I wanted to be the best.

Gus Kenworthy
Gus Kenworthy

I was insecure and ashamed. Unless you're gay, being gay has never been looked at as being cool. And I wanted to be cool.

Gus Kenworthy
Gus Kenworthy

More than I've wanted anything, I've wanted to do well at the X Games.

Gus Kenworthy
Gus Kenworthy

I don't really have a specific Olympic crush. There were a couple of guys during the Olympics in Sochi that were super fit. And during the summer games, any of the sports where people have their shirts off if they're diving or swimming or whatever, it's like eye candy.

Gus Kenworthy
Gus Kenworthy

The world that I would want to get into would be acting. In the beginning, I would do stuff as myself if I had the opportunity to host events - host, like, a talk show. Something like that, I think, would be super amazing.

Gus Kenworthy
Gus Kenworthy

I'm not one of those people who can eat whatever I want and never go to the gym. I have to work hard for any results I see.

Gus Kenworthy
Gus Kenworthy

I don't think you necessarily have to be crazy-fit for freeskiing. So much of the sport has to do with agility and nimbleness and flexibility and other things. It's a lot of muscle memory - it's more like dance, in a way - it's technique more than strength or endurance.

Gus Kenworthy
Gus Kenworthy

I've had knee trouble, and I worry about my shoulder, but I think my weakest link is my head. A helmet can only do so much, and I have seen the effects of brain injuries. That is a big fear. I think everyone's weakest link is their brain because it's their most fragile link.

Gus Kenworthy
Gus Kenworthy

I have felt so insecure about my body at times. I've been on every end of the spectrum. I felt like I was too skinny and wished I could be muscular. I've felt like I was chubby and wanted to be skinny. I think everybody suffers from body image issues. I might exude confidence sometimes, but I'm pretty insecure.