Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy will no longer represent the U.S.
The England-born athlete who moved to the U.S. when he was just 2 years old revealed Tuesday he will now compete for Great Britain in honor of his mother, who taught him how to ski.
“Although I was raised in the US I was born in the UK and my mum is British through-and-through,” Kenworthy wrote on Instagram. “She has been my #1 fan for my entire life and has proudly stood at the bottom of the mountain waving the stars and stripes in support of me for two Olympic cycles.”
“Now, in what is sure to be my last Olympic appearance, I’d like to return the honor by proudly holding up the British flag for her,” he added of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Check out his social media announcement on the change:
Kenworthy, 28, said in a statement that it provides him “a great opportunity” to “start again and compete in three events in 2022.” He reportedly hopes to qualify in the slopestyle, halfpipe and the new big air event.
The International Ski Federation approved Kenworthy’s transfer to the GB Snowsport team “with immediate effect” on Tuesday.
The switch in allegiance would also benefit him “in terms of qualifying and having less to worry about, less people I’m up against, just being able to focus on the tricks that I want to be working on, the runs that I want to do,” he told NBC Sports.
Kenworthy won silver in the slopestyle event at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. At the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, he and figure skater Adam Rippon became the first openly gay male athletes to compete for the U.S. in the quadrennial competition.
SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 23: The Canada team pose with the gold medals won during the Men's Ice Hockey Gold Medal match against Sweden on Day 16 of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics at Bolshoy Ice Dome on February 23, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Cross-Country Skiing - Winter Olympics Day 16
SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 23: Gold medalist Alexander Legkov of Russia celebrates during the flower ceremony for the Men's 50 km Mass Start Free during day 16 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Laura Cross-country Ski & Biathlon Center on February 23, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Bobsleigh Four-Man- Winter Olympics Day 16
Russia-1 four-man bobsleigh, pilot Alexander Zubkov, pushman Alexey Negodaylo, pushman Dmitry Trunenkov and brakeman Alexey Voevoda celebrate at the Bobsleigh Four-man Medal Ceremony at the Sanki Sliding Center during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 23, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ALEXANDER KLEIN (Photo credit should read ALEXANDER KLEIN/AFP/Getty Images)
10000m Speed Skating - Winter Olympics Day 12
SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 19: (L-R) Silver medalist Sven Kramer of the Netherlands, gold medalist Jorrit Bergsma of the Netherlands and bronze medalist Bob de Jong of the Netherlands celebrate on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Men's 10000m Speed Skating on day twelve of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at at Medals Plaza on February 19, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Speed Skating - Winter Olympics Day 15
SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 22: Gold medalists Netherlands celebrate during the medal ceremony for the Speed Skating Women's Pursuit on day fifteen of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at at Adler Arena Skating Center on February 22, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Snowboard - Winter Olympics Day 15
SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 22: Vic Wild of Russia celebrates in the Snowboard Men's Parallel Slalom Semifinals on day 15 of the 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on February 22, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Snowboard - Winter Olympics Day 15
SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 22: Julia Dujmovits of Austria celebrates winning the gold medal during the flower ceremony in the Snowboard Ladies' Parallel Slalom Big Final on day 15 of the 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on February 22, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Cross-Country Skiing - Winter Olympics Day 15
SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 22: Marit Bjoergen of Norway wins the Women's 30 km Mass Start Free during day 15 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Laura Cross-country Ski & Biathlon Center on February 22, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Biathlon - Winter Olympics Day 15
SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 22: (L-R) Alexey Volkov, Evgeny Ustyugov, Dmitry Malyshko and Anton Shipulin of Russia celebrate on the podium during flower ceremony for the Men's 4 x 7.5 km Relay during day 15 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Laura Cross-country Ski & Biathlon Center on February 22, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Alpine Skiing - Winter Olympics Day 15
SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 22: (FRANCE OUT) Mario Matt of Austria wins the gold medal during the Alpine Skiing Men's Slalom at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games at Rosa Khutor Alpine Centre on February 22, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom/Getty Images)
Alpine Skiing - Winter Olympics Day 14
SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 21: Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States celebrates winning gold after her second run during the Women's Slalom during day 14 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Alpine Center on February 21, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Short Track 5000 - Winter Olympics Day 14
Russia's Victor An celebrates after winnning with his team the gold medal in the Men's Short Track 5000 m Relay Final at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 21, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNIS (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)
Short Track 5000m Relay- Winter Olympics Day 14
Russia's gold medalists Ruslan Zakharov, Vladimir Grigorev, Semen Elistratov and Victor An pose on the podium during the Men's Short Track 5000 m Relay Flower Ceremony at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 21, 2014. AFP PHOTO / JUNG YEON-JE (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images)
Short Track Speed Skating - Winter Olympics Day 14
SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 21: Seung-Hi Park of South Korea celebrates winning the gold medal in the Short Track Women's 1000m Final A on day fourteen of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics at Iceberg Skating Palace on February 21, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)
Curling - Winter Olympics Day 14
(L-R) Canada's gold medallists Caleb Flaxey, Ryan Harnden, E.J. Harnden, Ryan Fry and Brad Jacobs celebrate during the Men's Curling Flower Ceremony at the Ice Cube Curling Center in Sochi during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 21, 2014. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images)
Biathlon - Winter Olympics Day 14
SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 21: Gold medalists Vita Semerenko, Juliya Dzhyma, Olena Pidhrushna and Valj Semerenko of Ukraine celebrate during the flower ceremony for the Biathlon Women's 4 x 6 km Relay during day 14 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Laura Cross-country Ski & Biathlon Center on February 21, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Freestyle Skiing - Winter Olympics Day 13
SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 20: Jean Frederic Chapuis of France celebrates winning the gold medal during the Freestyle Skiing Men's Ski Cross Big Final on day 13 of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on February 20, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Nordic Combined - Winter Olympics Day 13
SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 20: Gold medalists Magnus Hovdal Moan, Haavard Klemetsen, Magnus Krog and Joergen Graabak of Norway celebrate after the Nordic Combined Men's Team 4 x 5 km during day 13 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at RusSki Gorki Jumping Center on February 20, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Ice Hockey - Winter Olympics Day 5 - Canada v United States
SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 12: Meghan Agosta-Marciano #2 of Canada celebrates after scoring a goal with Natalie Spooner #24 in the third period against the United States during the Women's Ice Hockey Preliminary Round Group A game on day five of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Shayba Arena on February 12, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)
Freestyle Skiing - Winter Olympics Day 13
SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 20: (FRANCE OUT) Maddie Bowman of the USA wins the gold medal during the Freestyle Skiing Women's Halfpipe at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on February 20, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom/Getty Images)
Figure Skating Free Program - Winter Olympics Day 13
Russia's Adelina Sotnikova reacts in the kiss and cry zone during the Women's Figure Skating Free Program at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 20, 2014. AFP PHOTO / DAMIEN MEYER (Photo credit should read DAMIEN MEYER/AFP/Getty Images)
Curling - Winter Olympics Day 13
SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 20: Gold medalists Jennifer Jones (R), Kaitlyn Lawes (2nd R), Jill Officer (C), Dawn McEwen (2nd L) and Kirsten Wall (L) of Canada celebrate during the flower ceremony for the Gold medal match between Sweden and Canada on day 13 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Ice Cube Curling Center on February 20, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Biathlon - Winter Olympics Day 12
From left to right: Norway's Tora Berger, Tiril Eckhoff, Ole Einar Bjoerndalen and Norway's Emil Hegle Svendsen celebrate winning gold in the Biathlon mixed 2x6 km + 2x7,5 km Relay at the Laura Cross-Country Ski and Biathlon Center during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 19, 2014 in Rosa Khutor near Sochi. AFP PHOTO / KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV (Photo credit should read KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/Getty Images)
Speed Skating - Winter Olympics Day 12
Czech Republic's Martina Sablikova celebrates after winning the Women's Speed Skating 5000 m at the Adler Arena during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 19, 2014. AFP PHOTO / JUNG YEON-JE (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images)
Snowboard - Winter Olympics Day 12
SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 19: (FRANCE OUT) Vic Wild of Russia wins the gold medal during the Snowboarding Men's & Women's Parallel Giant Slalom at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on February 19, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Agence Zoom/Getty Images)
Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom - Winter Olympics Day 12
Gold Medallist, Switzerland's Patrizia Kummer celebrates in the Women's Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom Final at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 19, 2014. AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE (Photo credit should read FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images)
Cross-Country Skiing - Winter Olympics Day 12
SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 19: Sami Jauhojaervi (R) of Finland celebrates with team mate Iivo Niskanen of Finland after they won the gold medal in the Men's Team Sprint Classic Final during day 12 of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics at Laura Cross-country Ski & Biathlon Center on February 19, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Cross Country - Winter Olympics Day 12
(LtoR) Norway's Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg and Norway's Marit Bjoergen celebrate after the Women's Cross-Country Skiing Team Sprint Classic Final at the Laura Cross-Country Ski and Biathlon Center during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 19, 2014 in Rosa Khutor near Sochi. AFP PHOTO / KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV (Photo credit should read KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/Getty Images)
Bobsleigh - Winter Olympics Day 12
SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 19: Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse (L) of Canada team 1 celebrate during the flower ceremony after winning the gold medal during the Women's Bobsleigh on Day 12 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Sliding Center Sanki on February 19, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Alpine Skiing - Winter Olympics Day 12
SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 19: Ted Ligety of the United States celebrates during the Alpine Skiing Men's Giant Slalom on day 12 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Alpine Center on February 19, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Speed Skating - Winter Olympics Day 11
SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 18: Gold medalist Jorrit Bergsma of the Netherlands celebrates during the flower ceremony for the Men's 10000m Speed Skating event on day eleven of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Adler Arena Skating Center on February 18, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Snowboard Cross - Winter Olympics Day 11
France's Pierre Vaultier (L) and Russia's Nikolay Olyunin cross the finish line in the Men's Snowboard Cross Final at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 18, 2014. AFP PHOTO / LIONEL BONAVENTURE (Photo credit should read LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/Getty Images)
Short Track 3000m Relay - Winter Olympics Day 11
South Korea's gold medalists Shim Sukhee, Park Seunghi, Kim Alang, Cho Ha-Ri and Kong Sangjeong pose on the podium during the Women's Short Track 3000 m Relay Flower Ceremony at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 18, 2014. AFP PHOTO / JUNG YEON-JE (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images)
Nordic Combined - Winter Olympics Day 11
SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 18: Joergen Graabak of Norway celebrates as he crosses the line to win the gold medal ahead of Magnus Hovdal Moan of Norway in the Nordic Combined Men's 10km Cross Country during day 11 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at RusSki Gorki Nordic Combined Skiing Stadium on February 18, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
Freestyle Skiing - Winter Olympics Day 11
SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 18: David Wise of the United States celebrates after his first run in the Freestyle Skiing Men's Ski Halfpipe Finals on day eleven of the 2014 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on February 18, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
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