Gus Kenworthy Opens Up About the Challenges of Transitioning from Athlete to Actor — and Weighs the Possibility of Doing Porn.zin

Gus Kenworthy recently opened up about his transition from professional athlete to actor, acknowledging the challenges of the craft.

The former Olympic freestyle skier, known for roles in American Horror Story: 1984 and 80 for Brady, appeared on the Feb. 27 episode of Grindr Presents: Who’s The A—–? with Katya podcast, where he discussed topics ranging from skiing terminology to dating etiquette. During the conversation, Kenworthy candidly reflected on his new career path.

“It’s really hard, and when you’re in the moment [on set], it’s definitely, like, particularly hard,” the 33-year-old shared. “But the thing I like about it is that you can kind of do it forever. With skiing and sports, there’s such an expiration date, but with acting, you can keep improving.”

Kenworthy noted that by his last Olympic competition, he had reached the peak of his skiing career. “I was 32 at my last Olympics, and I feel like the peak age for skiing is between 18 and 25,” he explained.

During the interview, host Katya jokingly suggested that Kenworthy could “do porn.” His response? It’s not entirely off the table.

“Honestly, that was like a ‘No no no’ [for me], and now I’m like, ‘Maybe,’” he admitted with a smile.

The Reality of Olympic Earnings

The silver medalist also shed light on the financial realities of being an Olympic athlete. While medal winners receive a monetary prize, Kenworthy explained that those earnings are taxed, and athletes are not compensated for the majority of their training or time spent competing.

“That’s why you hear about athletes working multiple jobs and why there are grants available. Some countries pay their athletes to be on the team, but the U.S. does not,” he shared.

Future Plans: Acting, Hosting, and Commentary

Looking ahead, Kenworthy expressed his passion for entertainment, stating that his dream is to “act or host.” While he doesn’t want to be solely known as a sports commentator, he is open to covering select skiing events.

“I would do that. I don’t want to be pigeonholed into doing it all the time, but I would definitely cover the Olympics if I could choose which events to commentate on,” he said.

Advocating for LGBTQ+ Representation

Kenworthy, who publicly came out as gay in 2015, was one of the first action sports athletes to do so. In a 2018 interview with the U.K.’s Gay Times, he shared his motivation for being open about his sexuality, hoping it would empower younger individuals to live authentically.

“Representation and visibility are more important than ever because they inspire the next generation,” he said. “Being gay isn’t the only part of me, but it’s the best part of me, and it’s one of my favorite parts of me.”