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Nike show support for Gus Kenworthy with pair of rainbow equality goggles

By Ben Kelly

U.S. skier Gus Kenworthy can now look at the world through rainbow tinted glasses thanks to Nike.

The sporting brand have produced a pair of custom made ski goggles tinted with rainbow colours, specifically for the Olympic athlete, who came out as gay last year.

Nike recently dropped their sponsorship of Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao, after he said that gay people should be put to death. Now, they have shown their support for LGBT equality again, with this gesture to Kenworthy.

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Gus has been a vocal champion for LGBT equality since coming out publicly in October 2015, particularly on sporting issues.

Appearing on the cover of Attitude’s March 2016 issue, he spoke of his shock at being denied a double bed when he went to Sochi, Russia for the Winter Olympics with his boyfriend.

“You quickly realise that you don’t want to be in the country anymore,” he said. “The Olympics are the pinnacle sporting event in the world, where it’s supposed to be about all these countries coming together and yet you have this country that’s so backwards in their thinking hosting it.

“I don’t want to sound ungrateful because I had a good experience, but it just felt like it was an unfit hosting country.”

Writing on his Instagram, Gus said: “Really stoked on this custom pair goggles that @nike made for me! Feeling very loved and supported to get a gift like this.”

More stories:Go behind the scenes of Gus Kenworthy’s Attitude cover shoot10 pictures of Attitude cover star Gus Kenworthy to drool over