Adam Rippon, the first openly gay winter Olympian, made a strong first impression with his Olympic debut over the weekend in Gangheung, South Korea. USA Today reports that the Olympian “dazzled” crowds with his performance, drawing a lot of attention as a first time Olympian.
Image source: NBC Olympics
Rippon, 28, scored a 172.98, which earned Team USA eight points. Exiting the rink after his phenomenal performance in the long competition, Rippon couldn’t hide his excitement. “Now I’m actually an Olympian! They have the footage,” he said.
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 12, 2018
But despite all of the excitement in helping Team USA earn a bronze medal, many believed that Rippon had been unfairly judged, placing after competitors Mikhail Kolyada from Russia, and Patrick Chan from Canada. Both higher placing competitors fell during their routines.
While Twitter sounded off with both people’s admiration for Rippon and their anger for the scoring, Rippon responded with his trademark honesty.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been that nervous at 10 a.m. in my entire life,” said Rippon. “It felt great. I thought I was going to throw up but I kept it together.”
This honesty is in part what has made people fall in love with the skater. Rippon has taken advantage of his openness and is trying to make a mark in the skating world.
“I think my voice has given my skating more importance,” he told ESPN. “It gives my skating a greater purpose.”
People agree – and are very vocal about their new obsession with the skater.
— Louis Virtel (@louisvirtel) February 12, 2018
— Sally Holmes (@sallyholmes) February 12, 2018
— Julie Zerbo (@ZerboJulie) February 12, 2018
— Kamri Noel McKnight (@KamriNoel) February 12, 2018
For Rippon, all of this attention is just a cherry on top of the hard work he’s put into his Olympic dream. So whether or not the scoring was unfair, Rippon is happy to be competing.
And as for being an openly gay athlete? Rippon says it’s, “lots of hard work, but usually done with better eyebrows.”
After a weekend of good brows and great skating, we can’t wait to see where else Rippon’s career takes him.