Gus Kenworthy shares his reaction to the series Heated Rivalry
Olympic freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy said he was deeply moved by Heated Rivalry because it closely reflects his own life experiences. In an interview posted in January 2026, Kenworthy explained that he reached out to the show’s creator, Jacob Tierney, to express how much he related to the story. He said the series showed a kind of representation he had never seen before. The plot about secret relationships and hidden emotions felt close to his own story, especially during his early career as a public athlete.
“I actually wrote a message to [series creator Jacob Tierney] because I was so moved, and didn’t expect to be. And I don’t think I’ve ever seen myself reflected onscreen like that, in such a substantial way,” he revealed.
Gus Kenworthy connects the show to his past relationships
Kenworthy won a silver medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and became a well-known sports figure in the media. During that time, he was briefly linked to Miley Cyrus before coming out as gay publicly in 2015 in an ESPN The Magazine interview. He explained that being associated with a famous woman felt expected, but it did not reflect his true identity. The Olympic skier said that pretending became exhausting and emotionally difficult, especially while hiding his identity from teammates and family.
He also mentioned that he related to Heated Rivalry’s character, Shane Hollander, who had a brief relationship with Sophie Nélisse (played by Rose Landry). Their romantic interest ends when Landry finds out that Hollander is gay. Kenworthy drew parallels to this part of the series and his link to Miley Cyrus, making it the perfect straight romance.
“And Miley Cyrus was my own Rose, this famous person that I was suddenly linked to, and 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.”
Gus Kenworthy reflects on coming out and his Olympic comeback
In 2018, NBC aired footage of Kenworthy kissing his then-boyfriend at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, a moment that mirrored scenes from the characters of Heated Rivalry. After retiring following the 2022 Beijing Games, he focused on acting and television projects. In January 2026, it was announced that Kenworthy would return to Olympic competition, preparing for the Milan Cortina Winter Games, marking another step in his career.