Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Rippon oldest U.S. Olympic figure-skating rookie
SAN JOSE, California — After a disastrous free skate left his Olympic fate up in the air, Adam Rippon, 28, headed back to his hotel room, where his good friend Ashley Wagner and other close confidants waited to share the agonizing wait that followed — and a bottle of wine or two.
Rippon had entered that free skate a clean performance away from his first Olympic Games, one year after breaking his foot, four years after nearly quitting figure skating altogether — and 82 years after the last American man his age made an Olympic skating debut.
Then he fell on his opening jump, turned two triples into singles, and stood wideeyed in the terrifying aftermath. After a decade spent on the painful Olympic periphery, his best chance seemed to disintegrate in four and a half disappointing minutes.
Then — with Wagner, his mother and others there for congratulations or consolation — came the text. The committee had voted 11-1 to place Rippon on the Olympic team instead of surprise silver medalist Ross Miner, who had a less impressive international track record. U.S. Champion Nathan Chen and bronze medalist Vincent Zhou, the two most quad-laden Americans, were near-givens for the team. Rippon, one of the longest standing remnants of a more artistic era, had not been.
“I’m really grateful that the selection committee looked at my body of work over the last two seasons,” Rippon said. “I feel that my experience will help me have my best performances at the Olympic Games, and it feels amazing to say that.”
Rippon texted Miner when he heard who made the team, telling the 26-year-old he was proud of him. Miner admitted disappointment, but shared congratulations for Rippon all the same. While the podium at nationals often begets the Olympic team, and did so on the women’s side this year, Miner’s stunning emergence seemed likely to change that precedent.
“Ross had an amazing, lights-out performance. He’s a great example for our young skaters. He’s been a tremendous athlete over the years,” U.S. Figure Skating President Sam Auxier said. “However, we had to look at the body of work. Ross does amazing at U.S. Championships, but frankly he has struggled in international competition.”
Chen, 18, became U.S. Champion with a score 40 points higher than the rest of the competition, was a no-doubt choice. With a five-quad program that is pushing the sport to literal new heights, Chen is the best American hope for a singles figure skating medal.
Zhou, 17, is one of the only Americans capable of keeping up with Chen in the air, and has loaded his programs with quads, too. Chen knew he would be on this Olympic team.
After a strong free skate Saturday night, Zhou had a good sense that he would make that team, too.
But Rippon’s journey to this point is the most poignant of the three, one riddled with disappointment and frustration that nevertheless led him to the Olympics eventually. While all three men will be Olympic rookies, Rippon — the oldest of six children — is a decade older than both of his teammates.
“I’m so excited that my two sons are doing so well. I’m honored to be their father,” Rippon joked. “I always sort of feel like a leader or a big brother. I want the best for the both of them as we head into this Olympic Games.”