Gus Kenworthy Campaigns for Role in 'Heated Rivalry' Season 2, Highlighting His Hockey and Skating Skills

Gus Kenworthy, the 34-year-old Olympic freestyle skier and actor who came out as gay in 2015, has pitched himself for a role in season 2 of the HBO series "Heated Rivalry." In a recent interview with The New Yorker, Kenworthy responded to a suggestion that he could suit a part in the show by stating, “You know, I played hockey through high school. I can skate, and I know how to handle a stick.”

"Heated Rivalry," adapted from Rachel Reid's bestselling novel, follows the enemies-to-lovers romance between American hockey player Shane Hollander, played by Hudson Williams, and his Canadian rival Ilya Rozanov, played by Connor Storrie. The series, which premiered on Crave in Canada and streams on HBO Max internationally, has garnered acclaim for its authentic portrayal of queer relationships in professional sports, resonating deeply within LGBTQ+ communities.

Kenworthy's interest comes as production news builds excitement for future installments. Crave Canada and parent company Bell Media officially greenlit season 2, confirmed by author Rachel Reid and showrunner Jacob Tierney. Tierney has indicated that season 2 may not arrive until 2027, emphasizing the need to avoid rushing the creative process. However, Bell Media executives are exploring a bonus episode for 2026, potentially bridging seasons 1 and 2, similar to the "Euphoria" specials. Justin Stockman, vice-president of content development and programming at Bell Media, told the Toronto Star, "We're going to see what's feasible... I would love to have this back for the holidays next year, but that likely is not going to happen. We can't rush the process."

Kenworthy's hockey background could bring added realism to the production. Actors Williams and Storrie underwent only two weeks of skating training before filming season 1, as Storrie shared on "Late Night with Seth Meyers" earlier this month. Potential roles for Kenworthy include expansions from Reid's "Game Changers" book series, such as Kyle from "Common Goal," who interacts with characters like Eric Bennett, yet to appear on screen. Tierney recently hinted at plans for a third season, further fueling fan anticipation.

As an openly gay athlete, Kenworthy brings a unique perspective that aligns with the show's themes. He won silver in slopestyle skiing at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, competed in PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022, and is set to represent Team GB at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy after coming out of retirement. His public coming out followed rumors of a relationship with Miley Cyrus, a narrative echo some see in "Heated Rivalry's" sports-romance dynamics. Beyond sports, Kenworthy has acting credits including "American Horror Story" and a guest spot on "RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars," plus initiatives like NSFW jockstraps and an LGBTQ+ book club with Dylan Mulvaney.

The pitch has sparked discussion in LGBTQ+ media about increasing visibility for queer athletes in storytelling. "Heated Rivalry" has been praised for centering transgender and non-binary experiences indirectly through its inclusive casting and narratives, though direct community responses to Kenworthy's comments remain emerging. No official response from the "Heated Rivalry" team to Kenworthy's interest has been reported as of January 28, 2026. Fans continue to stream season 1 on HBO Max while awaiting updates.

This development underscores growing opportunities for LGBTQ+ figures like Kenworthy to shape media representations of queer lives in sports, potentially enhancing the series' authenticity and appeal to diverse audiences. Tierney stressed maintaining the story's integrity amid hype: "This isn't what any of us expected... I have to keep trusting myself."