Adam Rippon Is the Winter Olympics 2018 Hero We Need

In this op-ed, writer Jay Jurden explores why figure skater Adam Rippon is one of the most important athletes of the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Brrrr it’s cold in here, there must be some 2018 Olympic Winter Games athletes... in the atmosphere. The Winter Games in Pyeongchang have finally kicked off and already one of the most compelling storylines in this Winter Olympiad is one of inclusion and representation, ideals that exemplify what we strive to be in America, both as spectators and competitors. From openly gay athletes figure skater Adam Rippon and skier Gus Kenworthy, to black speed skaters Maame Biney, Shani Davis, and Erin Jackson (who will most likely have me in my home, doing my best Frozone from Disney/Pixar’s The Incredibles impression), these Olympics will serve as a testament to the power of visibility for marginalized groups.

Full disclosure: the closest that I have ever come to ice skating is when my building super forgets to salt the steps to my apartment in January, but Rippon's qualification to represent America in South Korea still overjoyed me as a patriot and as a queer man. We, America, were going to have an openly gay man competing for the first time in the Winter Olympics, IN 2018. And the gravity of that should be stressed. Male Olympic figure skaters in the past had remained somewhat tight lipped in regards to their sexuality during the games. Brian Boitano, 1988 gold medal winner, came out publicly in 2013 just ahead of the Sochi games, in response to host country Russia’s anti-gay policies. Johnny Weir, Olympian in both 2006 and 2010, deftly avoided inquires into his sexuality while competing and eventually came out on his own terms in a memoir. Weir, now a figure skating commentator, recently addressed his status as a “non out” Winter Olympics athlete in a series of tweets.

While both Boitano and Weir displayed tremendous bravery in their coming out as gay publicly, Rippon’s position as an openly gay competitor adds a new detail, worthy of celebration.

Rippon’s unapologetic openness in regards to his sexuality is not only refreshing but also necessary if we are to move forward culturally, especially in men's figure skating. The sport is often the butt of many jokes, both implicitly and explicitly coded as "feminine" (and thus less than), and Rippon seems to possess an unwavering, and nearly defiant stance in the face of that less-than-positive history. Media depictions such as Blades of Glory and the “What Would Brian Boitano Do?” song from the animated series South Park both seem to have their humor be contingent on the ridiculousness of a man performing figure skating routines. The very notion of the sport is laughable in these instances, but not to Olympian Adam Rippon. His outspoken nature demands not only respect for his sport but also respect for those things that have been deemed less than masculine or femme through the gaze of the heteronormative, male-centric masses.

On January 9th Rippon tweeted:

He not only grasps the gravitas of the moment that he is in, as an out Olympian, but Rippon also brings a voice to the voiceless young athletes who will see him compete. That level of empathy and foresight speaks volumes and makes the case that Rippon is more than ready for the international spotlight. That visibility is the antithesis of perceived inaccessibility, that series of seemingly endless roadblocks to both racial and sexual minorities or anyone that identifies as “other.” A sequence of very familiar words come to mind when attempting to explain the importance of visibility: “I’ve never seen anyone like ME, do something like THAT.” When little gay boys see Adam Rippon and Gus Kenworthy compete they will see someone who loves like them competing for Olympic gold. Their participation in these games might spark a difficult, but necessary conversation in many households around the country concerning LGBTQ representation. The opportunity to not only represent Team USA but also serve as champions for underrepresented groups is a task that both of these talented young men seem to welcome with open arms.

Adam Rippon’s social media presence is perhaps another signal that the world should indeed get ready for him and not the other way around. His Twitter feed is a hilarious yet insightful combination of figure skating, Mariah Carey retweets, holiday pictures, and the occasional brutally honest reply to an article or tweet. His penchant for comedy along with his willingness to bare both his opinions and his body... of work are also on full display if you follow his Instagram account. Rippon often retorts with comebacks that are just as, if not sharper, than his blades. In response to a seemingly well-intentioned but less-than glamorous ESPN article that argued figure skating needed standardized uniforms, not “costumes,” Rippon responded:

During his Men’s Free Skate performance, Rippon displayed exactly why he has garnered so much focus leading up to and during these games. While his very public exchanges with the offices of Vice President Mike Pence might have distracted others, Adam Rippon put on a performance that was truly breathtaking. #GayTwitter, #OlympicsTwitter and #RegularTwitter all seemed to be fangirling over our new olympic superhero. Skintight outfit, fighting for justice, pissing off supervillains, Adam Rippon is the hero we deserve in 2018. Olympic figure skating commentators Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski both seemed to blown away by not only the technical precision of Rippon’s free skate routine but also the level of artistry displayed by the first-time Olympian. After helping to secure very valuable points for Team USA (which took home bronze in the team event), Rippon moved on to his next event — his post-skate interviews — and per usual he did not disappoint. The IOC should seriously look into awarding interview medals. NBC’s Andrea Joyce caught up with Rippon and when asked how if felt to be at the Winter Olympics she was handed this gem:

“Andrea, it’s like, pretty awesome”

Which appropriately enough is precisely how the entire Twitter landscape felt after witnessing Rippon’s routine. Not satisfied with having only ONE memorable quote in THIS interview, Rippon turned to the camera and delivers this next gagworthy response with his trademark lovable mix of snark and whimsy:

“I highly recommend it. If you ever have the option, like, come to the Olympics, it’s like, a fun time”

That is the level of confidence, charisma, and wit that Americans are going to see displayed on the ice by this 28-year-old phenom in Pyeongchang. Unapologetically sexy, queer, and fun, Adam Rippon’s social media is but one tool in the arsenal he uses to chip away at whatever stuffy, fearful, and frightened image we, as Americans, had concerning LGBTQ+ Olympic athletes. The strides concerning LGBTQ+ rights and visibility that we as a country continue to make are seemingly manifest in this young skater. His knowledge of history coupled with the hopeful promise of an even more accepting and celebratory future are what make me root for him (even after we’ve established that I know very little about figure skating). Adam Rippon as an out gay man competing for Team USA in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, and being the first to qualify to do so, should make the entire country swell with pride.

Related: Mirai Nagasu Has Something to Say to People Who Think Figure Skaters Always Look Perfect