Ryan Wedding

From Snowboards to Smuggler: The Wild Story of Ryan Wedding!

A former Olympic snowboarder goes from peak performance to a criminal indictment—all while living it up in Mexico!

In a jaw-dropping turn of events, Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, has found himself in a serious predicament, charged with serious federal crimes including cocaine trafficking and conspiracy to commit murder. Alongside 15 other co-defendants, Wedding is accused of orchestrating a widespread drug trafficking operation that allegedly funneled immense quantities of cocaine across North America. The indictment reveals details of a shocking double life—a lifestyle that swapped snowboards for smuggling routes!

According to federal prosecutors, Ryan Wedding didn't just put his skills to rest after his Olympic days; instead, he transformed into a major player in the drug trade. From as early as 2011, he purportedly led this criminal enterprise right up until 2024, overseeing an operation that was chillingly efficient—involving the transport of around 60 tons of cocaine annually! Talk about a snowball effect, only this time, it’s not snow at the end of it. His second-in-command, Andrew Clark, also faces similar charges, indicating that this was no one-man show.

As authorities tightened the noose on this alleged drug trafficking ring, Wedding became a person of interest to the F.B.I., reportedly believed to be residing in sunny Mexico. While most are hitting the beach in the Caribbean sun, this former Olympian might be in a bit of a pickle, trying to dodge law enforcement while enjoying the sun. With multiple charges hanging over his head, including ordering killings linked to his alleged operations, his life trajectory has taken a dizzying turn that certainly wasn’t on his Olympic agenda.

As two interesting pearls of wisdom to round out this surprising story: First, many athletes face the pressure of life post-competition and struggle to find a new direction, but few go from competing in Winter Games to allegedly running a drug empire. Secondly, did you know that Olympic athletes often enjoy a two-decade average of fame following their games? Sadly, for Wedding, it seems the glory has given way to a notorious legacy that he never anticipated!