Winter Olympics figure skating: Adam Rippon, Mirai Nagasu snubbed for exhibition gala

Martin Rogers | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Adam Rippon is a gay rights ambassador American figure skater Adam Rippon was inspired by fellow skater Ashley Wagner to share his story.

GANGNEUNG, South Korea – Adam Rippon and Mirai Nagasu were snubbed for the exhibition gala performance at the 2018 Winter Olympics despite their crowd-pleasing routines during the regular competition.

The omission of the Americans from the invitation list means there will be no U.S. singles figure skating among the 26 performances to take place on Sunday afternoon.

The gala is not a competition, but a performance show, that signs off the figure skating program.

Nathan Chen was invited after executing six quad jumps on his way to a fifth-place finish but was forced to withdraw. Chen came down with the flu and left the Games early to avoid the risk of infecting other athletes ahead of their competitions, according to US Figure Skating.

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Positions in the gala are typically allocated to skaters that have performed outstandingly during the medal events. Women’s champion Alina Zagitova will be present, as will Canadian ice dance sensations Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir. Men’s winner Yuzuru Hanyu will not to perform.

The absence of Rippon and Nagasu is perhaps somewhat of a surprise. Nagasu became only the third woman to land a clean triple axel in Olympic history during the team event and was highly popular with the crowd at the Gangneung Ice Arena despite her 10th-place finish.

Rippon also placed 10th but is now may be America’s most famous figure skater after his personality and charm endeared him to a mainstream audience.

It is common for skaters who did not place highly but connected with the crowd to be invited to participate. Misha Ge of Uzbekistan, who finished 17th, is on the program. North Korea’s pairs skaters pair came in 13th, but will also be on display. So too will South Korea’s Cha Jun-Hwan, who was 15th in the men’s event.

The American representation comes solely from ice dance, thanks to bronze medalists Alex and Maia Shibutani, plus fourth-place finishers Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue.