Gus Kenworthy Had His Own ‘Heated Rivalry’ — And One A-List Pop Star Was Part Of It

The Olympic freestyle skier, who is gay, drew parallels between his pre-coming-out life and the smash sports-themed romance series.

Olympian Gus Kenworthy sees a lot of himself in “Heated Rivalry.”

In an interview with The New Yorker published Sunday, Kenworthy acknowledged the many “parallels” between the series and his own private life, particularly in the years before he publicly addressed his sexuality.

“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,” Kenworthy said. “The parallels are kind of insane. I also had a secret relationship, with these clandestine meetings and hookups.”

He went on to note: “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.”

Based on Rachel Reid’s “Game Changers” novels, “Heated Rivalry” captured the cultural zeitgeist shortly after it premiered on HBO Max and Canada’s Crave in November to critical acclaim. The six-episode series follows professional hockey players Shane Hollander (played by Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), who meet as adversaries on the ice but are soon engaged in a steamy, behind-the-scenes romance.