Olympic free skier Gus Kenworthy left the 2014 Sochi Games with a silver medal and a pack of stray dogs he famously rescued. But he was bothered by what he didn't do at the last Olympics. He didn't speak out about Russia's anti-gay policies then, but now he's living as his authentic self and taking on a new role – one that transcends sports."I definitely carry a little bit of a burden with me, being a gay athlete going to the Olympics. I think that there's pressure on me…. It presents an amazing opportunity and I think that it kind of gives us a chance to shed people's misconceptions and just kind of like break down barriers," Kenworthy told CBS News' Don Dahler.
For Kenworthy, free skiing is like a dance. He masters the delicate balance of precision, technique and control effortlessly. The 26-year-old, British-born, Colorado-bred star learned to ski shortly after learning to walk. Today, the extreme athlete is embracing his role off the mountain, as an advocate for the LGBT community.
"When I was a kid, my life would've been easier if I had someone that was in my position, that was out and gay and proud and successful in their sport…. But not having that, I think I realize the need for that and the importance of it and so I want to be that person," Kenworthy said. "I wanna be able to be a beacon of light for young kids in sports."
His ability on the snow is indisputable. He has rubber bones, as he calls them. But as an elite athlete in the testosterone-filled world of extreme sports, coming out was frightening.
"Competitors, even friends that would say things that were so homophobic and I don't think that they realized necessarily the impact that it was having on me, because I was in the closet," he said. "And I think that that's what made me really scared to come out."
Source :- cbsnews
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