American figure skater Adam Rippon has
for the first time publicly discussed his sexuality.
The 25-year-old Rippon came out in this
month's issue of Skating, the official magazine of U.S. Figure
Skating.
“It's the year 2015. So many more
athletes are willing to be open, and it's part of the culture now to
be more open about who you are and what your interests are,” he
said. “Of course people are interested in your sexual orientation.
People love rumors. When athletes come out and say that they’re
gay, it makes it a little more normal and less of a big deal –
especially in the athletic community. You have a lot of respect for
your fellow athletes for working hard toward a goal. Their sexual
orientation takes a backseat to that.”
The U.S. silver medalist added that he
considered coming out before the Sochi Olympics, for which he did not
qualify for.
“I did think about it,” he
said. “When you go out and compete, you want to represent
[skating] to the best of your ability, and you want to represent your
true, authentic self. When you're honest with yourself, you can do
that. I want to be a relatable example.”
Rippon appears on the Skating
cover with figure skater Ashley Wagner.