Adam Rippon Speaks Out After Olympic Debut
Just minutes after 28-year-old skater Adam Rippon made his debut at the 2018 PyeongChang Games on Monday morning, he said that being vocal about his sexuality and his politics has given his skating a deeper meaning and a "greater purpose."
"It’s about getting out there and sharing your story," Rippon, the first openly gay U.S. figure skater, told reporters after his performance. “At some level I always knew that I had a voice, but it took me a really long time to find it and to use it. I think coming to the Olympics has been a really wonderful opportunity for me to share what I think and share my viewpoint."
Rippon has been in the headlines ever since speaking out in a January interview with a USA Today reporter about the Trump administration's policies toward the LGBTQ community, calling out Vice President Mike Pence specifically. Rippon’s agent, David Baden, reportedly said that Pence's team contacted them to set up a meeting - which he turned down (Pence’s team has denied that they reached out to Rippon).
Rippon says it is his mother Kelly (who is in PyeongChang cheering him on), who taught him to "stand up for people who might not have a voice."
“I can be honest with you, sometimes it’s really hard [being vocal]," he says. "But I came here to do a job and I think that being vocal has given my skating more importance, not just for me... I think that everybody can relate to being different or feeling like they’re not good enough or they’ll never make it because they’re from a small town maybe they just don’t feel like they’re good enough.
"Well, I have those doubts, too."
Kelly told GoodHousekeeping.com in a recent interview that her son has "worked so hard for all of those things, for all of his achievement, but it's his sexuality, something he didn't practice for and dedicate time to improving, that the public is most intrigued by."
Rippon donned a sparkling ice blue costume designed by Braden Overett for his debut in the men's free program, as part of the team event, and skated to a musical medley that featured an array of Coldplay songs. He spoke with his BFF Ashley Wagner, a three-time U.S. figure skating national champion, before his program for support. "Ashley said 'You’re ready! You know what to do and I’m so proud of you,'" says Rippon.
His jaw-dropping performance left the stands - and, basically, everyone watching back in the U.S. - in tears. But his third place finish had Twitter users wondering what was happening with the judges. (Here's a helpful guide to figure skating scoring, because, honestly, it's confusing AF).
“I can’t control the score," says Rippon. "But to the people that were distressed, I hope maybe you can be on a judging panel someday!”
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