Gus Kenworthy, a four-time Olympian and Olympic silver medalist, is officially returning to compete under the U.S. Ski Team after previously representing Great Britain at two Winter Olympics. Kenworthy, who won silver for the United States in slopestyle at Sochi 2014 and competed for Team USA again in Pyeongchang 2018, switched his allegiance to Great Britain in 2019. He participated in the Beijing 2022 and Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Games as a British athlete before retiring and then making a comeback in December 2025 to qualify for his fourth Olympics.

On September 8, 2026, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) approved Kenworthy’s request to revert his national affiliation back to the U.S., prompting a review and planned update of the FIS rule that previously barred athletes from changing their national representation more than once. The federation clarified that Kenworthy’s return was not considered an exception, and the updated rule allowing athletes to return to their original country after a minimum of four years will be formalized after the October council meeting. Kenworthy's unique eligibility stems partly from his dual nationality, being born in the UK to a British mother and American father.

Kenworthy’s move back to the U.S. team comes after Team GB indicated they could not secure funding for his ongoing competition beyond 2026 and offered him a release. This transition occurred despite the FIS adopting in May 2025 a regulation to prevent athletes from switching nations multiple times to gain competitive advantage. Kenworthy and U.S. Ski & Snowboard successfully argued that his switch back was not a third national change, meeting the criteria for this exception amid stiff competition in the U.S. men’s halfpipe circuit, which includes six of the top 10 global-ranked skiers, four of whom reached the 2026 Olympic team.

Looking ahead, Gus Kenworthy is set to join the U.S. freeski team’s upcoming training camp in Austria this November. Now 34, he aims to conclude his career on a high note, motivated by a desire to finish with an Olympic medal. This return to Team USA places him among an elite roster, underscoring his competitive drive and the challenges he faces to secure an Olympic podium once again. Kenworthy’s story highlights both the evolving nature of athlete nationality rules in international sports and his personal commitment to the sport he helped popularize.