Gay old man on skates

The Olympic Games have their Opening Ceremony on Friday. I’m a fan of the Olympics because it is a place and time when so many countries gather in peace – though they have to spoil it by keeping track of how many medals each country has won. So I’ll be watching (likely recorded and delayed) the opening and closing ceremonies. I’ll also be watching a lot of the figure skating, a sport with an artistic side (it’s also – spoiler alert – quite gay).

To underscore that last point, here is Adam Rippon, the first openly gay figure skater (note the word “openly”). At 28 he’s also the oldest skater to make his first appearance at the Olympics – his teammates are ten years younger. He did a 10 minute radio interview with Robin Young of Here and Now. The webpage includes transcripts of interview highlights.

Rippon was, alas, bullied when he was younger. When he found skating he discovered it was a sport he was good at. It was also a sport where he could be himself. He decided a few years ago he needed to be out, even it it cost him his career (from such things as judges scoring him low). But his performances improved and his wins increased after coming out.

Back in 2014 (the last Winter Olympics) I wrote about the internal conflicts in figure skating at the time. Most of the men who take up the sport are assumed to be gay (and several of the famous ones are) but a gay sport didn’t play well with audiences and sponsors, and therefore judges. So athletes didn’t dare come out until their career was over. And that is what makes Rippon’s trip to the Olympics so noteworthy.

Gus Kenworthy is also gay and also going to the Olympics. His sport is freeskiing. He’s also featured in a “Shoulders of Greatness” commercial for Head & Shoulders shampoo. Included is a moment with him and the rainbow flag. What isn’t on his shoulders is the weight of staying closeted.