Ryan Wedding

About

Canadian former Olympic snowboarder who became internationally known for his alleged role in a major drug-trafficking operation. He first became known for being an elite athlete and representing Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics in men's parallel giant slalom. He became notorious after U.S. authorities accused him of leading an international cocaine-smuggling network tied to the Sinaloa Cartel and being added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list in March 2025.

Before fame

He began snowboarding competitively in his teens and quickly rose through Canada's elite ranks. He won a bronze medal at the Junior World Championships in 1999. He followed that with a silver medal at the Junior World Championships in 2001. He qualified for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and represented Canada in men's parallel giant slalom. He finished 24th at the Olympics and then stepped away from top-level competition. He was convicted in 2010 in a U.S. cocaine case and sentenced to four years in prison. He eventually became the subject of new federal charges alleging he led a transnational cocaine enterprise. He was accused by prosecutors of ordering murders connected to his alleged drug-trafficking enterprise including the killing of a federal witness. He was officially added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list in March 2025. He was arrested in Mexico City in January 2026 and extradited to the United States.

Trivia

He became one of the world's most high-profile fugitives when the U.S. government raised the reward for information leading to his arrest to up to $15 million. He was linked to the seizure of an ultra-rare 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR Roadster that was valued at roughly $13 million and was one of only six ever made. His Olympic event was giant slalom and federal investigators referenced "Operation Giant Slalom" when discussing his case.

Family life

He was born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.

Associated with

He competed in the same Olympic-era snowboarding era as Shaun White.