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.
They need to combine figure skating with shooting, like the Biathlon.
If you can do a Triple Lutz, then follow it up by nailing 10 out of 10 targets, then I’d really be impressed.
It’s so superficial. People should be themselves but if the subject is sex, best to keep it private. We don’t want a male downhill skier getting to the bottom ripping off his skis, and announcing he loves to f women. We just want to focus on the sport.
“”””””There is no honor in that. He is not a winner.”””””
He’s a fag, Jim.
Brian Boitano & Brian Orser are both gay; however, both were skaters first and great skaters at that rather than prefacing everything they did with their sexual orientation. No comments were made about their sexual orientation during any of the commentary or analysis of their performances that I ever heard.
Rippon is a flamboyant, activist gay first, throwing it up in everyone’s face & everything is supposed to follow on for him because of his sexual orientation. His “gay struggle” is the excuse used by all defending Rippon for his lack of results on the ice. If Rippon were straight, he’d get very little attention, especially since his routines do not contain the more risky, technical content as performed by the other skaters who are outscoring him.
Exactly. Everybody knew about Boitano, we didn’t care, because he never made a big deal out of it.
How is Adam Rippon a hero when he is vile, reprobate, and given over to a perverse lust? Homosexuality is a dreadful mental and spiritual conditions that causes premature death. That said, I pray that Jesus Christ, in His love, would set Adam free from his destruction.
Ah yes, all must have prizes.
Actually “true Olympic champions” get the gold medals.
Between commentator Johnny Weird...er, Weir....and Madam, er, I mean Adam Rippon, I’m surprised the ice doesn’t instantly melt when those two flaming dudes are within 100 feet of the rink.
He was an above average performer - nothing spectacular in the least. He only got the overblown media attention he did because of his stated sexuality.
In other news in regards to Thurs. Nights Men's Figure Skating.....
"NBC’s coverage of the Winter Olympics on Thursday night drew 16 million total viewers and a 3.9 demo rating, ticking down from Wednesday’s PyeongChang lows while off 30 and 34 percent from the same night in Sochi 2014"
Sass and pizzazz don't amount to much.
Finger, meet tonsils. let me guess, the writer must be a transsexual in search of a date with you know who. The modern Olympic Games have prouder accomplishments to talk about than this blowhard’s love object.
Exactly. Nathan Chen didn’t get nearly the attention but he owned that last routine like a boss. Adam Rippon is certainly above average but nothing spectacular - never would have gotten the media hype which was nonstop but for his stated sexuality and the fact he apparently doesn’t like the Vice President.
“Ice Prancing.” Good idea for a Monty Python skit.
From SNL
The U.S. Heterosexual Men’s Ice Skating Championships
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1ZYTQToX9A&t=52s
They need to combine skating with cage fighting. No wait...that’s ice hockey
What, no barf alert? But I guess the headline was a warning.
ten years from now there will be two faggots prancing together instead of boy/girl
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