Menu
Olympics

Rippon Turns Down NBC Media Role To Keep Official Olympic Standing

Rippon's charismatic skating and post-skate interviews made him an undeniable sensation among fansGETTY IMAGES

U.S. figure skater Adam Rippon "has declined" an offer to work for NBC for the remainder of the Pyeongchang Games after realizing he would "have to relinquish his official Olympic standing, give up his Olympic credential, move out of Team USA Housing and not be allowed to march" in the Closing Ceremony, according to Christine Brennan of USA TODAY. He was offered a position with the net after "becoming one of the breakout stars" of the Games, "helping the Americans win a bronze in the team event" (USA TODAY, 2/19). Rippon said, "My friends and my teammates were there for me through all of my events, and I owe it to them to stand by their side and be there for them during their events. That's so important because, you know, I'm like America's sweetheart now. I came here an athlete and I am representing my country and to do that to the best of my ability, I have to be there for my teammates." He said of perhaps joining the net later, "Just wait five days.” NBC's Savannah Guthrie notes Rippon has become a "fan favorite all around the world." When asked who was having a better Olympics than he was, Rippon said, “Maybe somebody who actually won them” (“Today,” NBC, 2/19). Rippon's "charismatic skating, glittery costumes, and genial, hilarious post-skate interviews have made him into an undeniable sensation" (VARIETY.com, 2/18). Rippon "became one of the biggest breakout stars ... not just for his athletic exploits but for saying things that have been at turns smart, creative and refreshing for viewers." He has become "must-see as an interview subject" (WASHINGTON POST, 2/19).

REMEMBER THE NAMES: USA TODAY's Nancy Armour wrote what Rippon and U.S. freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy have done in Pyeongchang is "far bigger than sport." They are the first two openly gay American Winter Olympians, and in the "evolution of societal attitudes toward gays and lesbians," their participation "will be a watershed moment." Armour: "They became two of the biggest American stars at these Games simply by being their authentic selves." Kenworthy yesterday even "kissed boyfriend Matt Wilkas before his first run, a moment shown during NBC’s prime-time coverage." While both athletes are "proud of who they are and are willing standard bearers for the LGBTQ community, they look forward to the day when their sexual orientation is irrelevant" (USATODAY.com, 2/18). In L.A., Mark Zeigler wrote Kenworthy and Rippon are the "real rock stars in Pyeongchang." Their "real legacy" might be the "tectonic shift from tolerance to acceptance to, yes, reverence of the gay male athlete." There are 15 "openly gay athletes in Pyeongchang, two more than" '10 and '14 combined (L.A. TIMES, 2/18). In N.Y., Karen Crouse writes Kenworthy and Rippon are "among the biggest American stars at these Games" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/19). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Cohen & Radnofsky wrote under the header, "The Pride Flag Waves At The Olympics For Adam Rippon" (WSJ.com, 2/17).

SUCCESS WITHOUT A MEDAL: Kenworthy said he would consider Pyeongchang a “success” despite finishing without a medal. He said, "This has been [a] really successful Games for me. It wasn’t the result I wanted ski-wise and I would have loved to have landed my run in the final. But I also accept the fact that I didn't." He added, "This isn't just about the medals, it isn’t just about winning. It's about coming here and representing who you are, representing your country, your community and getting to showcase who it is that you are” (“Winter Olympics,” NBCSN, 2/18). In Denver, Mark Kiszla writes Kenworthy's trip to the Olympics from the beginning "seemed to be more about flaunting the politics of social change than winning a spot on the podium." With "cameras in place to film a documentary chronicling nearly every move he made in South Korea, Kenworthy unabashedly used the Winter Games as a stage to showcase his new friendship" with Rippon and "quarrel with" Pence on the issue of LGBT rights. The kiss with his boyfriend "fit perfectly with the rest of the script." Kiszla: "You might disagree with Kenworthy’s political stand, but can any red-blooded capitalist argue with him leveraging his Olympic fame in the name of politics and profit?" (DENVER POST, 2/19).

NOT JUST THE MEN: In Salt Lake City, Falk & Kamrani noted U.S. speedskater Brittany Bowe also is openly gay, and she said that being "mentioned alongside the likes of Kenworthy and Rippon means a lot." Bowe: "There has been an outpouring of support the past two weeks." OutSports.com co-Founder Cyd Zeigler said that Bowe "hasn't garnered much attention" compared to Rippon or Kenworthy despite having the "best athletic performance at these Games so far" among the three. But Zeigler said, "If Brittany Bowe reaches one young girl living in a Mormon household in Provo, Utah, with her performance at the Olympics, then nothing else really matters" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 2/18).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 18, 2024

Sports Business Awards nominees unveiled; NWSL's historic opening weekend and takeaways from CFP deal

ESPN’s Jay Bilas, BTN’s Meghan McKeown, and a deep dive into AppleTV+’s The Dynasty

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2018/02/19/Olympics/Rippon.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2018/02/19/Olympics/Rippon.aspx

CLOSE