Former Canadian Olympic athlete Ryan James Wedding, who represented his country in snowboarding at the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics, has gone from elite sports to being on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. Wedding is accused of leading an international drug trafficking organization linked to multiple homicides.

U.S. authorities have detailed that Wedding is under investigation for conspiracy to distribute illicit substances, cocaine trafficking, and murder in connection with a criminal network. According to the FBI, the Canadian allegedly ran an organization that transported drugs from Colombia, through Mexico and Southern California, to Canada and other parts of the United States. Additionally, he is accused of being involved in planning murders to strengthen his control within organized crime.

Wedding’s life took a dramatic turn after retiring from sports. At Salt Lake City 2002, he competed in the parallel giant slalom event, finishing 24th. However, years later, he relocated to Mexico, where he allegedly began his involvement in drug trafficking. Investigations indicate that his network used trailers to transport cocaine from California to Canada, eliminating any rivals who posed a threat to their operations.

Million-Dollar Reward for His Capture

The U.S. Department of State has offered a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to his arrest. Authorities consider him armed and dangerous, and his search has intensified with cooperation from the governments of Mexico and Canada. In October 2024, one of Wedding’s alleged associates was arrested in Mexico and extradited to the U.S. in February 2025, but the former Olympian remains at large.

The case of Ryan Wedding has shocked many, as it is rare for a former high-level athlete to end up leading such a large-scale criminal organization. Officials from the DEA and FBI describe him as an ambitious and ruthless individual who went from excelling in sports to becoming a criminal mastermind. “The former snowboarder unleashed an avalanche of death and destruction, both here and abroad,” said a senior DEA official.

Now, Wedding’s face appears on the list of the world’s most dangerous criminals as authorities step up efforts to capture him. From the snowy slopes to the dark streets of crime, his story serves as a grim reminder of how some paths in life can take an unexpected and tragic turn.