Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy opens up about being linked to Miley Cyrus and his hidden life

Gus Kenworthy opened up about his past in a new interview and spoke in a very honest way about what life felt like before he came out as gay. The Olympic freestyle skier said a recent TV show made him think about the years when he was hiding a big part of himself.

He also talked about the time he was linked to pop star Miley Cyrus after the 2014 Winter Olympics.The 34-year-old shared his thoughts in an interview with The New Yorker, published on Sunday, January 25. He explained how watching the show helped him understand his own feelings from the past. Kenworthy said some moments on screen felt very close to his real life.

Gus Kenworthy talks about being linked to Miley Cyrus before coming out

A year later, in 2015, he publicly came out as gay. But before that, he says he often felt trapped between who people thought he was and who he really was. In the interview, Kenworthy spoke about a time right after the Sochi Games. On February 13, 2014, he and his teammates swept the podium. The next day was Valentine’s Day, and reporters asked him about his “dream date” and “celebrity crush.” Kenworthy said he panicked. He did not feel ready to speak his truth.

“I kind of froze and said Miley Cyrus,” he shared. Soon, that answer spread online. Miley Cyrus even replied and followed him on social media. Kenworthy said the attention felt unreal, but also heavy. “I felt like I was digging a deeper hole,” he explained, because he was still hiding a big part of his life.He said there was friendly messaging between them, and he truly admired her. But inside, he knew it was not the life he wanted.

“I didn’t want to keep waking up and pretending,” he said. That feeling stayed with him until he finally chose to speak openly in 2015.Gus Kenworthy also spoke about a show called Heated Rivalry, which follows the hidden life of a famous hockey player. He said he watched it recently and did not expect it to affect him. At first, he thought it was just another sports drama.

But the third episode changed his view. It focused on a closeted athlete dealing with fame and secret relationships.

“I saw myself in him,” Kenworthy said. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt that kind of reflection before.”He explained that the character’s wish to be open, but fear of losing everything, was exactly how he felt for many years. Gus Kenworthy said he even wrote to the show’s creator because the story moved him so much. Today, Gus Kenworthy is open about who he is and continues his sports career. He is set to represent Great Britain at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, after previously competing for the United States in 2014 and 2018.