MEDAL COUNT

President Mike Pence as ceremonial leader of the U.S. delegation considering his history of supporting gay conversion therapy and other legislation perceived as homophobic.

Pence played the “fake news” card. Rippon said he had “receipts” of Pence’s political leanings and tweeted out examples.

Rippon said Pence offered to meet with him in Pyeongchang. Rippon declined, saying he wanted to bring along some of the people back home who have been impacted by that legislation.

“I’ve shown the world that I’m a fierce competitor, but I think I’ve shown them that I’m also a fierce human being,” Rippon said. “I guess on some sort of level I always knew I had a voice. But it took a long time to find it, and to use it. Coming to the Olympics has been a really wonderful opportunity for me to share what I think, share my viewpoint. My mom always taught me to stand up for people who might not have a voice. “It’s given my skating a greater purpose.” That Rippon finally made an Olympic team and skated three clean programs here might not be a coincidence. Kenworthy doesn’t think it is, either, going from a guy who routinely was the top qualifier in events and then crashed in the final to winning more consistently.

“When I came out,” Rippon said, “was when I was able to breathe.”

“I was able to ski better,” Kenworthy said. “It’s like the pressure got to me (before) and I couldn’t handle it. Being in the closet was something ever-present on my mind, always distracting.” oth use the word, liberating. Another word: empowering. Another: pioneering. Team USGay, they call it. Rippon was asked to explain the difference between gay and straight athletes. There’s really not much, he said: “Lots of hard work, but usually done with better eyebrows.”

No need to raise them. Get used to it.

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GETTY & REUTERS Figure skater Adam Rippon is not only openly gay but he’s gone out of his way to flaunt his homosexuality, while snowboarder Gus Kenworthy (inset) takes a more low key approach to his sexuality but admits that being open has helped him feel more...