Winter Olympian Adam Rippon is retiring from professional skating.
The out 29-year-old became one of the most prominent athletes in the world in the leadup to the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games, both for his talent on the ice and his charming and outspoken personality.
He took home a bronze medal at the games and his stance as an LGBTQ advocate and against Vice President Mike Pence made headlines.
CBS’ Note to Self series shared a heartfelt letter Rippon penned to his younger self, urging him to be proud.
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“You are going through a really tough time right now. You’ve just missed qualifying for the Olympic team for the second time in a row. You feel confused and you feel like a failure. It might not make sense right now, but this is truly one of the most important moments in your life,” he wrote.
“Take a moment and be proud of yourself.”
He continued:
“You work so hard, but you are even harder on yourself.
“Now, listen, this part is important: Stand up, walk to a mirror, look yourself straight in the eye and tell yourself: you are a winner. You won’t see one looking back at you yet, but do this every day and you’ll really start to learn what being a winner is. Being a winner is a mindset.”
Read the full letter below:
Hi Adam,
It’s me, Adam, but from the future.
You are going through a really tough time right now. You’ve just missed qualifying for the Olympic team for the second time in a row. You feel confused and you feel like a failure. It might not make sense right now, but this is truly one of the most important moments in your life.
Take a moment and be proud of yourself.
Do you remember being 13 and taking the Greyhound Bus from Scranton to Philadelphia every Monday morning so you could get to practice? You stayed with so many different families who made you feel like you were home when you were not. It was scary and you missed your own family very much but your mom always told you it wasn’t a sacrifice if you got to do what you love. You lived in your coach’s basement for a few months because you couldn’t afford to live anywhere else. Not that long ago, you had so little money that sometimes you had to choose whether you paid for groceries or paid for ice time.
You work so hard, but you are even harder on yourself. Now, listen, this part is important: Stand up, walk to a mirror, look yourself straight in the eye and tell yourself: you are a winner. You won’t see one looking back at you yet, but do this every day and you’ll really start to learn what being a winner is. Being a winner is a mindset.
You’ve come out to your friends and family a few years ago and it made you feel so free, like you’ve grown wings. Do you remember growing up in Pennsylvania, thinking that being gay was something you would never tell anyone? When you publicly come out in the next year, you will let go of what other people think of you. You will hope to give someone else what you didn’t feel growing up: permission to be themselves. You will be saying: “You are worthy.”
Oh, and when you wax your eyebrows, start talking about how great they look. It’ll be a hit.
Over the next few years, you’ll get into the best shape of your life, mentally and physically, and you will feel so in control. You’re not a teenager anymore and you’ve embraced that you aren’t going to be as thin or light as some of your competitors. You worked on perfecting yourself instead of trying to change yourself.
You will become a national champion at 26 and your path to the Olympics will seem clearer than ever. But exactly one year before the 2018 Olympic team selection, you will break your foot. You’ll fear everything you’ve worked for was in vain, but don’t be discouraged. You are strong, you are brave, you can take on anything.
You, Adam, will make the Olympic team and skate on Olympic ice, it’ll be a moment you’ve been waiting for your entire life. It’ll be crazy, wild, emotional and very exciting. The world will see your character and they will embrace you for just being yourself.
You are a man now. You’ve challenged yourself and taken risks. You make people around you laugh, and help them like who they are. You’ve become the role model that you wished you’d had as a kid. You will look in the mirror and you will see someone you like. You will look in the mirror and finally see a winner looking back at you.
Now go out and conquer the world.
Wicked Dickie
Good luck with the next chapter, Adam.
spacecadet
So sweet and touching. It’s fascinating when athletes in certain fields have to retire at such a young age but I understand it. He has his whole life ahead of him and he can do other things in media and sports still.
Lacuevaman
i’m crying….. i’ll have to finish this comment later………
Giuseppe
And…?
Charlie in Charge
Sincerely asking: What news stories would you like Queerty to report?
Jim
He is SO amazing and represents the best of American LGBTQ people to the whole world. How proud we are of him and he’ll have more than one great career after ice skating.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
A positive role model for Gay kids everywhere…..
How long till a miserable vile troll posts something negative about him on this thread?????
iamru2
Actually your calling people who have an opinion other than yours some pretty nasty names, maybe the irony is lost on you.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
A positive role model for Gay kids everywhere…..
How long until a miserable vile troll posts something negative about him on this thread?????
Vince
Now he can devote more time to that giant viking boyfriend of his.
Donston
Say what you will about him, but his earnestness, lack of pretension and lack of self-pity are refreshing.
iamru2
I find his grandstanding kind of annoying.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Iamru2: Do you have issues with straight celebs attempting to build a brand also?
Your 2 comments on this thread prove you are a loser, vile, pathetic troll.
I don’t know what “ur” but thankfully most of the guys on this site ARE NOT like you. Just go away….
iamru2
I understand your anger and frustration best of luck to you.
Paulie P
Hey Gurl.. maybe you are not that good of a skater…..To interested in fame and note the game….
Charlie in Charge
I think being an Olympic medalist actually does indicate he is indeed a good skater.
stanhope
Ya know I just love him. Yes at first glance of his posterior I wanted to do him, yet he has shown so many the value in just being yourself. Kudos to Adam, he is soooooo much more than tom daly.
Black Pegasus
So the self proclaimed ‘Glamazon Bitch’ is retiring eh? Good! Hopefully we won’t have to see him celebrated on blogs anymore for doing absolutely nothing.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Go the fcuk away vile troll…
scotty
another proud and out fag from PA. represent yo…. another bathwater donator thank you very much my apologies for the lateness of my reply but dayum he is HAF