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.
The Olympics isn’t a participation trophy, ya faggot.
We only remember the champions because of what they also do off the ice.
“Even without Gold Adam Rippon is an Olympic Champion”
No he is not, he wasn’t even the USA Champion. As a matter of fact he came in fourth place in the USA Nationals. How did this Clown even ever make the the Team? Do they take extra skaters now because of the goofy Team competition? The top Skaters don’t even compete in the Team event.
yep - used to be 3 events: long program, short program and actual figure skating where they were judged on the ability to stay on the figures. Eliminated the latter and the short program was basically made into cut down long program instead of a second program with a different song. It’s all opinion now. Damn shame.
Kind of like college football.
Adam Rippon is a loser in more ways than one, but the fags want to give him a participation trophy
BULLSPIT he’s the face of the poofer movement right now... a typical self absorbed classic flamboyant diva. Didn’t even attempt let alone complete a single quad in his long program.
He was outclassed and outperformed, but still made sure everyone who would listen that it was all about him.
” He only got the overblown media attention he did because of his stated sexuality.”
I’d go a little further. His skating aside, although he appears to be only so-so at the Olympic level.
If he was pro Trump/Pence and kept his sexual preference to himself, would he get the same treatment ?
Didn’t think so.
And here we have yet another poster boy for the left......
“the writer must be a transsexual in search of a date with you know who.”
Outsports is a homosexual sports rag. Never heard of it until it showed up at the very top in a Google search.
Let’s all come out of the (I enjoy watching curling) closet together, whaddya say? Somehow this seems like the thread to do it.
The thing that pisses me off most is knowing that if he supported Trump, he’d be vilified by the liberals and laughing at his horrid performance. Now just because he is anti-Trump, he will be the crown jewel and will become a multi-millionaire for it. Disgusting.
“Let’s all come out of the (I enjoy watching curling) closet together, whaddya say? Somehow this seems like the thread to do it.”
Allright, fine:
I am a CURLING fan.
There, I said it.
I’m still a good person.
Maybe it’ll get better when we get this damnable mens’ figure skating over with.
What a load of bilious nonsense ... the verbal equivalent of vomit.
Sometime in the next four years, he'll "identify" as a "trans-woman" ...
“Maybe it’ll get better when we get this damnable mens’ figure skating over with.”
For sure it will.
We need help at the speed skating oval. Lot’s of medals there.
The ostentatious faggotry of these Olympics no doubt protends a long term decrease in interest for the olympics. There are only so many fag hags that will tune in to watch these “men” do their thing.
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