“I have a horrible fear of being paralyzed. There are so many inspirational people that have lived through that and been so strong, but I don’t know if I have the mental toughness to handle that. I don’t know what I would do…” – Gus Kenworthy
The Inertia Mountain is proud to present (HEADSPACE): Gus Kenworthy. The Winter Olympian went Insta-famous after he dominated the Sochi Winter Games, winning a silver medal on his sport’s most prestigious stage. (The very public adoption of stray dogs probably helped within certain key demographics.) But don’t think that Gus is fazed or even distracted by this newfound fame and the often overwhelming attention it brings.
The talented 23-year-old freeskier is keeping his wits about him and his head on straight as he leads the US Freeski team in Slopestyle and Halfpipe. And that isn’t even to mention the four AFP World Championships overall titles under his belt. Yet when you speak with him, there is nothing but honesty and appreciation for his circumstances, as well as respect for his peers. He is the kind of person who reflects and truly considers what he says and, subsequently, how he represents himself — a trait that is rare enough among everyday people, let alone world-class athletes.
We recently had the opportunity to sit down with the Telluride local during the recent Grand Prix event at Mammoth Mountain to see how life has changed post-Olympics, and what drives him now that he’s accomplished his dreams. He revealed his greatest fears and biggest fans, and one nightmarish memory that weighs heavy on the heart.
Thank you to the crew at Mammoth Mountain and Mammoth Inn for their long-time harboring and development of Olympic-caliber athletes — as well as the continued good graces shared our (much) less athletic editorial team.
