From The Slopes To The Top 10 FBI’s Most Wanted List: Ex-Olympian Ryan Wedding Arrested
FBI Most Wanted Fugitive and Olympian Ryan Wedding has been arrested in Mexico. The arrest closes the net on a man accused of trading his snowboard for a criminal empire, allegedly running a massive transnational drug trafficking operation that moved cocaine by the metric ton.
For sports fans and legal observers alike, the question is the same: How does an Olympic athlete end up on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list?
The Fall from Grace
Ryan James Wedding, now 44, wasn’t always a headline name in the criminal underworld. Two decades ago, he was competing on the world’s biggest athletic stage, carving down mountains in the parallel giant slalom event. While he didn’t take home a medal in 2002, simply making the Olympic team placed him in the upper echelon of global athletes.
However, investigators say his competitive drive eventually found a much darker outlet. Over the last decade, authorities allege that Wedding transitioned from an athlete to a kingpin. The Justice Department and the FBI have painted a picture of a man who was allegedly hiding in plain sight in Mexico.
Wedding was orchestrating a network that shipped massive quantities of cocaine from South America, through Mexico, United States and Canada. This wasn’t a small-time operation. U.S. authorities have compared his role to that of notorious cartel leaders, alleging that his organization didn’t just move product—they protected it with lethal force.
The Takedown: A Cross-Border Operation
The arrest in Mexico wasn’t a lucky break; it was the result of a persistent, grinding investigation that required heavy lifting from international agencies.
FBI officials have described the capture as a major victory for cross-border law enforcement. For over a year, Wedding had been a ghost, allegedly directing operations from the shadows while U.S. prosecutors built their case. The investigation was elevated to a top priority, with FBI Director Kash Patel using strong language to describe the violence and scope of the network Wedding is accused of leading.
The “game plan” for this arrest involved months of fugitive tracking. Heck not too long ago they confiscated over $40 million worth of motorcycles from him. When Mexican authorities finally took him into custody, it signaled the end of Wedding’s decade-long evasion of the law. He is now set to be flown to the United States, where he will trade his freedom for a federal courtroom.
The Scorecard: Serious Charges Ahead
The indictments facing the former Olympian are heavy. This isn’t just about drug possession; federal prosecutors are throwing the book at him. The charges include:
- Drug Trafficking
- Money Laundering:
- Violent Crimes
The severity of these charges explains why Wedding landed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list in 2025. He was a dangerous fugitive. From the many stories out there on him, the world is a better place with Ryan Wedding off the streets. Now that he is in custody, the legal process begins. Wedding is expected to make an initial court appearance in the U.S. soon.
FAQ
Was Ryan Wedding actually on the FBI’s Most Wanted list?
Yes. Wedding was added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list in 2025 due to the severity of the allegations against him.
What specific crimes is he accused of?
He faces a trifecta of serious federal charges: large-scale cocaine trafficking, money laundering, and involvement in murder-related activities to protect his organization.
Did he win a medal in the Olympics?
No. Ryan Wedding competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City in the parallel giant slalom, but he did not medal.
The Final Whistle
Ryan Wedding’s story is a tragedy of wasted potential. To go from the pinnacle of human achievement—the Olympic Games—to facing life behind bars is a trajectory few can comprehend. As the legal proceedings get underway, the world will learn more about the dark underbelly of the network prosecutors say he ran. For now, the manhunt is over, and the former Olympian is about to face his toughest judge yet.
