Footage of gay skier Gus Kenworthy kissing his boyfriend after completing a ski run in the Winter Olympics in South Korea has gone viral. 

“I didn’t even know that that was a televised moment at all,” the 26-year-old, one of few openly gay Olympians, told reporters according to Reuters.

“But I think that’s amazing, that’s something that I wanted at the last Olympics was to share a kiss with my boyfriend at the bottom but I was too scared to do it for myself.

“So to be able to do that to give him a kiss, to have that affection broadcast for the world is incredible.

“I think it’s the only way to change perceptions, break down homophobia, break down barriers is through representation and that’s definitely not something I had as a kid.

“I definitely didn’t see a gay athlete at the Olympics kissing their boyfriend and I think if I had it would have made it a lot easier for me.”