Who Is Gus Kenworthy? Gay Skier Admits Secret Relationship During Viral 'Romance' With Miley Cyrus

Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy has revealed that he was secretly dating a man at the height of public speculation linking him romantically to pop star Miley Cyrus. According to RadarOnline, the athlete, who won a silver medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, has described the period as both surreal and emotionally complicated, acknowledging that while the attention was flattering, it masked a deeply personal struggle with identity, secrecy and fear.

Kenworthy revisited the experience while drawing comparisons between his own life and the storyline of the HBO Max drama Heated Rivalry, in which a closeted gay ice hockey star is publicly linked to a famous woman to deflect attention from his sexuality. For Kenworthy, the parallels were striking.

Heated Rivalry Comparisons and Public Perception

In the series, the fictional athlete Shane Hollander is 'suddenly linked' to a well-known woman to conceal his true self. Kenworthy said the storyline echoed his real-life situation during the Olympics, when his comments about Cyrus quickly became international news. 'Miley Cyrus was my own Rose, this famous person that I was suddenly linked to, he said. 'As much as I kind of wanted it, because that's the person you would want to be with if you're straight, someone successful and beautiful and talented, it's not the same as when you're with a guy.'

Just days after his Olympic success, Kenworthy publicly called Cyrus his 'dream date' and 'celeb crush', comments that fuelled speculation and viral headlines. At the time, he was not openly gay, and the attention created a narrative that did not reflect his private life. Behind the scenes, he says, the situation became increasingly difficult to manage.

A 'Deeper and Deeper Hole'

Kenworthy recalled the emotional toll of navigating public flirtation while maintaining a private relationship with a man. 'It was surreal for a number of reasons, but I was also digging myself this deeper and deeper hole', he said. 'I actually love her. But then there was some flirty texting, and I remember thinking, "What am I doing? I don't want to do this anymore. I don't want to keep waking up and lying."'

At the same time as those exchanges, Kenworthy confirmed he was in what he described as a 'secret relationship' with a man, involving 'clandestine meetings and hookups' that mirrored the hidden romance depicted in Heated Rivalry. The pressure was heightened by the setting. The 2014 Winter Games took place in Russia, where strict anti-LGBTQ laws were in force. Kenworthy admitted that, had circumstances been different, he had imagined making a powerful personal statement.

'I wasn't out, and I wasn't ready to be out, but I had a boyfriend. I had this dream that I was gonna land the winning run, ski up to him, and kiss him. And then that was gonna be my coming out to everybody, and my silent protest. But it didn't happen,' the athlete shared.

Coming Out and Miley Cyrus' Support

Kenworthy publicly came out as gay in 2015, a year after the Olympics. Cyrus emerged as one of his most vocal supporters. She praised him on Instagram, writing: 'Never have I ever been prouder to call @guskenworthy my friend! (and he's a bad a-- f---ing Olympic athlete).' 'You have won so much more than any medal.... You have won FREEDOM! I looooove looooove looooove you!'