From Olympic Glory to Criminal Empire: The Shocking Rise and Fall of Ryan Wedding
Once an Olympic Star, Now a Fugitive Kingpin with a $10 Million Bounty
Ryan Wedding once soared down the slopes as an Olympic snowboarder for Canada. Now, he’s on the run, accused of orchestrating a ruthless, multinational drug empire—and the FBI is willing to pay $10 million for information leading to his capture.
From Gold Medals to Cocaine Cartels
At 43, Wedding has gone from competing in the 2002 Winter Olympics to allegedly running a vast cocaine network spanning Colombia, Mexico, the U.S., and Canada. His alias? “El Jefe”—a name that speaks to his feared reputation in the underworld. Federal authorities claim he trafficked an astonishing 60 tons of cocaine annually, flooding North America with drugs while eliminating those who stood in his way.
The Killings That Shocked a Nation
Authorities allege Wedding’s cartel didn’t just move drugs—they murdered competitors to maintain control. Court filings suggest his group assassinated two innocent Canadians in a brutal case of mistaken identity, as well as two others tied to the trade.
The FBI’s Akil Davis put it bluntly: “Wedding went from shredding powder on the slopes to distributing powder cocaine on the streets.”
A Most Wanted Man with a $10M Price Tag
The charges against Wedding were filed in June and expanded in September, painting a damning picture of an elite athlete turned criminal mastermind. A dozen alleged associates have already been arrested, but Wedding remains elusive, slipping through the fingers of law enforcement like he once carved through fresh snow.
With his face now plastered on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list, the hunt is on.
A Fallen Hero or the Ultimate Villain?
The transformation of Ryan Wedding—from a young athlete chasing Olympic dreams to an alleged cartel boss—has left many stunned. Was this the inevitable descent of a man caught up in the dark side of fame? Or was he always destined to be more outlaw than Olympian?
💬 What do you think? Drop your thoughts in the comments! Is this a tragic fall from grace or the unmasking of a dangerous criminal hiding in plain sight?
