Ex-Olympian Fugitive Ryan Wedding Captured After FBI Hunt

A former Olympic athlete who traded the slopes for crime has been captured after an intense international manhunt.

Ryan Wedding, 44, who competed for Canada in snowboarding at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, surrendered to authorities in Mexico after months of pressure from U.S. and Mexican law enforcement. The FBI had placed him on their Ten Most Wanted list in March 2025.

Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed Wedding's arrest Friday. Patel personally accompanied Wedding on the flight back to U.S. soil, where he now faces serious federal charges.

The allegations against Wedding paint a dark picture far from his Olympic past. Authorities say he ran a massive cocaine trafficking operation that moved hundreds of kilograms of drugs from Colombia through Mexico and California to Canada and other U.S. locations.

Even more disturbing, prosecutors accuse Wedding of ordering multiple murders to protect his operation. In January 2025, he allegedly placed a bounty on a witness who was later shot and killed at a restaurant in Colombia, hoping the death would lead to charges being dropped.

Just last month, Mexican authorities seized $40 million worth of motorcycles believed to belong to Wedding. The FBI had increased the reward for his capture to $15 million as pressure mounted.

The Bright Side

This arrest represents more than one criminal caught. It's the sixth FBI Ten Most Wanted fugitive captured in just one year, individuals who had collectively evaded justice for nearly 40 years combined.

The collaboration between U.S. and Mexican authorities shows what's possible when law enforcement agencies work together across borders. Wedding had been hiding in Mexico for over a decade, but coordinated efforts and modern investigative techniques finally closed in on him.

For the families of his alleged victims, Wedding's capture brings the possibility of accountability and closure. While it can't undo the harm caused, justice moving forward offers hope that dangerous criminals can't run forever.

Wedding's journey from Olympic competitor to international fugitive serves as a stark reminder that no one is above the law, no matter their past achievements or how far they run.