Posted on 02/17/2018 8:53:09 AM PST by libh8er
If ever there was a true Olympic champion, it’s Adam Rippon.
As the figure skater glided across the ice after his free skate, his final bow in his first and last Olympics, he did so with no gold medal.
Yet Rippon did something more. The Olympic Creed itself deems it so. The Creed is an expression of value for the entire Olympic movement that, since it was first uttered over a hundred years ago, has guided the Games and its athletes.
“The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part,” the Olympic Creed reads, “just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.”
Few have been the personification of that Olympic Creed quite like Rippon. He did not just take part in these Olympic Games, he owned them. He wrapped his slight, glittery arms around the entire event, tossed sequins across the world, and defied all of the conventional wisdom we have ever been told about what — and who — is an Olympic hero.
What brought Rippon to the front of the public eye were his comments weeks before these Olympics about his struggle, highlighting his understanding of the politics of the world and the people who have stood against him and his community. Clearing the hurdles that Rippon has faced has taken courage, determination and a fighting spirit to never let go of his dreams.
All of that has come full circle in an Olympic week that saw him win over the media and fans around the world with his sass and pizzazz.
“He’s owned these olympics,” said Terry Gannon on NBC’s broadcast. “He’s made them his.”
Rarely have we seen a sports figure more effectively capture and express a much-needed mood in this country. As division seems to creep increasingly into every corner of our lives, and negativity pervades conversation, Rippon has been a breath of fresh air for so many Americans — across the political spectrum — who’ve felt beaten down by the lack of smiles and celebration in our collective national conscience.
Some — a select few — indeed look at Rippon with disdain. As I’ve written about the outspoken gay Olympian over the last week, I’ve also noticed some nasty messages directed his way. Usually they’re completely uninformed or totally false claims about what he said or who he is.
There’s no uniting these people. That they have taken aim at Rippon with such venom is rather a powerful statement of Rippon’s achievements, and the hope he has brought so many others.
For the rest of us — young, old, gay, straight, men, women — it has been Rippon’s willingness to be his true self, and express himself however he wanted, that won over America.
Like nothing else, Americans crave authenticity. We get so little of it from our national leaders today — people worrying first and foremost how others will perceive them — that when we get authenticity served by the bucketload, we fall over ourselves with joy.
That’s what the week of Adam Rippon brought us: Joy. His pure, unadulterated, authentic self brought us joy so many of us had forgotten.
It was an absolute pleasure to watch this young man over the last week, all three times he took to the ice. I came to understand, halfway through his final free skate, that it didn’t matter one bit what his official score was, or whether he won a medal. His presence, his fortitude and his message were our medals.
No, Rippon didn’t win a gold medal. He’ll forever be an Olympic medalist thanks to his bronze medal from the team event. But that elusive individual gold has eluded him.
Yet Rippon won these Winter Olympics. And he will forever be an Olympic champion.
Oooohhh no... that’s not what he’s angling for. He’s angling for one of those glittery jobs on TV where he can be the voice of figure skating IN YOUR FACE for the next 10 Olympics. Like the poof they have sitting with poor, pretty Tara Lipinski.
Even without gold, Adam Rippon is a champion faggot.
Cyd Zeigler, the autthor of this article,
presently lives in Los Angeles with his husband, Dan Pinar, a dentist.
Sorry folks - only gold medal winners receive the title “Olympic Champions”
There aren’t participation trophies at the Olympics - and that’s why people have enjoyed the Olympics for so long.
He does, however, deserve the title, “Olympian” - as do all the Olympic competitors.
And that is nothing to sneeze at.
No he is a piece of crap and a gold medal pole smoker not a hero.
Has there ever been a more barf-worthy article?
The curling conversation happens on every Olympics thread.
No, you can throw that out at the pub the rest of your life...
Adam is a celebrated queer
Me too. just got into it and now with Rugby in the summer Olympics i'm set.
“If he’s lucky he’ll be hired to put the Snoopy costume on for the next Ice Capades tour.”
I was thinking one of the princesses for Disney on Ice!
“I am a CURLING fan. There, I said it. I’m still a good person.”
“Me too.”
Hopefully our courage and fortitude will help others who still hide in the shadows of hate and fear.
Adam Rippon should never have been on the Olympic team. Whoever chose the skaters for the men’s US team picked him over Ross Miner who came in second at the US Nationals; Rippon came in fourth and didn’t have the skills that Ross had. Clearly, a case of PC. If I were Ross Miner, I would be as mad as hell.
We have a new term in our family “Stealing apples from the gym”. Not sure how we’re going to use it, probably have something to do with homos.
I believe that they’re called “stones”. :=)
“Curling Rocks!!!”
Another one Out of the Closet!
We are a Force to be reckoned with!
We’re Curling Fans, We’re Fierce and We’re In Your Face!!!!!!
Great comment. That author deems Rippon a hero because he’s homosexual. He’s so libtarded and sin bound, he’s lost all sense of reality.
Great comment. That author deems Rippon a hero because he’s homosexual. He’s so libtarded and sin bound, he’s lost all sense of reality.
If you have no humility from losing, how do you get any better?
Would you rather they hang their head in shame because they 'let down their country'?
The thing about the Olympics is written in the Olympic Motto, which is stated in the article. The vast majority of the athletes who show up have no chance in Hell of winning a medal of any kind. They are there to participate. They gather together to show the world that, despite our differences, we don't have to kill each other, just to prove who is better.
Would I love it if the US won every gold medal they were entered in? Of course. Is that possible? No.
Remember the old Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc nations? They won a large amount of medals, but they did it through what amounted to state-sponsored control of who got to compete, and sometimes outright cheating.
US athletes have to earn their way to the Olympics. They do what they can to raise money just to compete, not to mention getting to the Olympics themselves. They aren't government-sponsored. I hope it stays that way.
If they believe that they did their best, that they 'left it all out there', even if they didn't win...I'm okay with that. Hopefully, they use what they learned to get better and, if possible, try again in 4 years. If, while they are there, they do their best and have some fun in the meantime, I'm cool with that.
Now, as for Adam Rippon...no, he isn't a champion. No, he didn't advance 'gay rights' by what he did. He only embarrassed himself by what he said and did. Unless he gets a massive wake-up call (whatever that may be), he will probably never understand what kind of a fool he looked like.
The same goes for ANY US athlete who disses their government because they don't like who is in charge.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.