Adam Rippon

Adam Rippon was born on November 11, 1989, in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He began his figure skating career at the age of ten, quickly progressing through the junior ranks. Notably, he achieved significant success at the junior level, winning two Junior World Championship titles in 2008 and 2009, and the 2007–08 Junior Grand Prix Final. His distinctive ‘Rippon Lutz,’ a triple Lutz performed with both arms above his head, became a signature move during his competitive years.

Rippon transitioned to the senior level and continued to accumulate accolades, becoming the 2010 Four Continents Champion and the 2016 U.S. National Champion. A significant milestone in his career was representing the United States at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, where he earned a bronze medal in the team event. This achievement made him the first openly gay man to win a medal at the Winter Games for the U.S. Following his retirement from competitive skating in 2018, Rippon expanded his career into media and entertainment, securing a victory on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ season 26 with professional dancer Jenna Johnson.

His post-competitive career includes guest appearances on television shows such as ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ and MTV’s ‘Messyness,’ as well as winning the reality competition series ‘Stars on Mars’ in 2023. Rippon has also lent his expertise as a commentator for figure skating events, including the 2024 U.S. Figure Skating Championships for NBC. In 2019, he released his memoir, ‘Beautiful on the Outside,’ further establishing his multifaceted career beyond competitive sports.