For me, as a kid, I always felt like being gay was something that was going make people turn on me.
— 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.
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.
More than I've wanted anything, I've wanted to do well at the X Games.
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.
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.
I realize how fortunate I am to have been able to make a life and career out of skiing.
All I can really say is to encourage anybody who's in the closet to come out, and congratulate anyone who has.
You can be gay and be proud of that and not have to worry about being unsuccessful or unaccepted.
I want to be the guy that's taking names, on the podium, and winning events.
I think it's so important to have visibility and to break down stereotypes and stigmas and everything that people are so attached to.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I love Kim Chi the drag queen from 'RuPaul's Drag Race,' but I'm not sure about the food.
Figure skating, especially the longer performances, are such a feat. It requires so much stamina and is so beautiful.
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.
I hope that any gay kids see me as beacon of light, not just in sport but in general.
When I was in the closet, I had so much pressure on my shoulders. When I came out, that was actually the first moment I felt relieved of those stresses. It really showed in my skiing.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Jet lag is tough, to be honest. For me, it's much easier to force yourself to stay awake.
I'm putting in the time to make sure that my body is ready to compete at the top level.
If everyone could see everyone else the way their mom saw them, it would be a much better place for all of us.
Dating in the closet is torture. It's one of the most difficult things, especially if you are completely closeted.
