Olympian Gus Kenworthy Says He Was “So Moved” By ‘Heated Rivalry’ & How It Paralleled His Experience: “That Was Me For So Many Years”

[ad_1] British American Olympic freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy, who made historical past as the primary overtly homosexual excessive sports activities competitor when he got here out in 2015, mentioned he was “so moved” by Heated Rivalry‘s depiction of closeted queer athletes.

In an intensive Q&A with The New Yorker forward of his fourth Olympic video games in Milan, Kenworthy famous the parallels between the runaway Crave Canada hit and his life, as each a personal particular person and public-facing athlete.

“At first, I didn’t perceive the massive deal. It was enjoyable to look at, however it was form of smut. I actually thought, ‘All these thirsty gays! Y’all are simply attractive.’ Like, you might watch porn? Individuals stored telling me, ‘Simply wait — it tugs on the heartstrings.’ After which it did,” he mentioned.

Significantly, Kenworthy — who has additionally forayed into appearing in recent times with appearances in American Horror Story and 80 for Brady — felt represented by François Arnaud’s standalone episode “Hunter,” which focuses on the clandestine romance between one other professional hockey participant and a smoothie bar barista Kip (Robbie G.Okay.).

“The third episode modified issues for me,” Kenworthy, who received the silver medal in males’s slopestyle on the Sochi video games, recalled. “I really wrote a message to the present’s creator [Jacob Tierney] as a result of I used to be so moved, and didn’t anticipate to be. And I don’t assume I’ve ever seen myself mirrored onscreen like that, in such a considerable manner. The parallels are type of insane. I additionally had a secret relationship with these clandestine conferences and hookups. And Miley Cyrus was my very own Rose [Sophie Nélisse’s movie star character in the show, who has a brief but public relationship with Hudson Williams‘ Shane Hollander], this well-known person who I used to be instantly linked to, and as a lot as I type of wished it — as a result of that’s the individual you'd need to be with for those who’re straight, somebody profitable and exquisite and gifted — it’s not the identical as once you’re with a man.”

“After which the Scott Hunter character — I actually associated to him. He wished to be out, however actually, simply actually felt like he couldn’t be, due to his circumstances. That was me for therefore a few years. I had the identical craving — to be in love, to be public, and to not have to cover,” he concluded.

Kenworthy, who will likely be staging a comeback in Milan as a part of Group GB, additionally joked he was obtainable to look in Season 2. “You realize, I performed hockey via highschool. I can skate, and I understand how to deal with a stick.”

The sleeper hit, which streams within the U.S. on HBO Max, has gone world since its premiere late November, catapulting its most important stars Williams and Connor Storrie to in a single day movie star (simply this morning, the duo carried the Olympic torch in Italy) and sparking vital conversations about hegemonic masculinity in elite sports activities. Williams has spoken about being despatched “pretty nameless emails” from closeted professional athletes competing throughout hockey, soccer and basketball, whereas some out athletes have touted publicly what the present means to them.