Watch | Gus Kenworthy recalls the time he almost came out on live TV

Gus Kenworthy has had a whirlwind few months since he came out in s headline-grabbing cover profile with ESPN magazine last October, and last night saw the world champion freeskier’s debut appearance on Conan, where he recalled the moment he almost came out after his silver medal finish at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

“Leading into the Russian Olympics there was all this anti-LGBT legislature and they had warned people about [sic]… if you’re gay…or if any of the athletes are gay, like, try not to show it because it’s very unsafe, it’s not accepted”, the 25-year-old tells O’Brien.

“And I was like, that’s bullshit! I wasn’t even out. But I was like, that’s ridiculous.”

He continues: “I had a boyfriend at the time and had kind of talked about landing the best run ever and winning an Olympic gold medal and kissing him at the bottom and… That would be my way of telling everyone. But it didn’t happen, and I’m glad it didn’t because I hadn’t told my mom, my dad, my brothers.

“It would have not only been a shock to the sport and to the Olympics, but my family would have been like, what the hell?!”

Watch Gus’ full appearance on Conan below:

We caught up with the snow-slicing sports star late last year, where we discussed secret relationships, first sexual experiences, and his desire to become a gay role model – click here to read our interview in full.

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