He was still the same athlete who has ranked as the top-ranked overall skier in the world for the past five years.
But Kenworthy was lighter in a figurative way, a way in which a burden lifted has rekindled his love of his sport. For five years, Kenworthy had come to Aspen thirsting for an X Games medal but carrying a secret that added to his nerves in ways beyond what his competitors likely felt.
It has been three months since he came out as gay publicly in a cover story for ESPN The Magazine, and it’s probably no coincidence that Kenworthy reached his goal Thursday in claiming halfpipe silver.