Adam Rippon receives one letter that stands out from the rest

Christine Brennan | USA TODAY

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PYEONGCHANG, South Korea – Of the hundreds of emails that the agent of openly gay U.S. Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon has been receiving over the past couple of weeks, one stood out.

It was from a young man, an 18-year-old from the Midwest, who said he was gay but comes from a family that doesn’t accept his sexuality, Rippon’s agent, David Baden, said in a phone interview Monday.

“The young man said he’s been struggling so much and felt he had no way out,” Baden said, “but when he heard about Adam’s story, he felt that Adam was giving him hope. He said Adam’s bravery inspired him to write and that even though he’s still struggling, seeing Adam as such an incredible example helps him.”

After reading the email, Baden, who is in South Korea for the Winter Olympics, had one thought: “Adam needs to see this.”

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So he forwarded the email to Rippon, figuring that he likely wouldn’t get a chance to read it for a few days because of his training and preparation for the Olympic figure skating team competition, in which he skated the men’s long program for the United States Monday.

After his performance, which helped secure the bronze medal for the USA, I asked Rippon about the young man and his email.

“I haven’t talked to him yet,” Rippon said. “I just saw the email this morning.”

Asked if he was planning to reply, Rippon said:

“Absolutely. It’s so important. I would just tell him that there’s nothing more liberating than to really own who you are. It’s one of the best feelings in the world to be comfortable with who you are, not care what other people think and just really embrace your true potential because that’s really when you realize that anything is possible.”

Rippon, 28, who said he was bullied and teased as a boy growing up in Scranton, Pa., came out publicly as being gay in an October 2015 story in Skating magazine. He often talks about how he hopes his story can help others, especially young people who might be struggling with their sexuality.

“I think that being vocal has kind of given my skating more importance,” Rippon said. “It’s not just for me. I go out there because it’s not just, oh, I was a young gay kid. Everybody can relate to being different, or feeling like they’re not good enough. … I had those doubts too. I can go out there and I want to show those young kids that anything is possible.

“It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what other people say about you. You can put that all behind you and you can go out there and you can show the world what you have to offer. … I think coming to the Olympics has been a really wonderful opportunity for me to share my viewpoint. It’s given my skating a greater purpose.”

Rippon also has been involved in a high-profile war of words with Vice President Pence over gay rights, beginning with Rippon’s criticism of Pence’s record in my USA TODAY Sports story Jan. 17. Rippon’s profile, already on the rise after becoming the first openly gay athlete to qualify for a U.S. Winter Olympic team, has grown exponentially since he decided to take on Pence, attracting quite a bit of attention, especially in the gay community.

“Most of the emails Adam is getting are emails of support, and I’m saving them for him,” Baden said. “But this one from that young man was different. This one resonated with me for Adam. I’m thinking to myself, ‘This is why you’re doing this. This is the kind of kid you’re reaching. You need to know that.’

“I wanted him to read this and see it and see if he can help.”