Adam Rippon Was Adorable and Focused on the Olympics at 13

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It's a safe bet that so many have fallen in love with gay figure skater Adam Rippon since he made his Olympic debut with a flawless skate in the team competition this past weekend. Prior to competition, the 28-year-old made headlines for standing up to the infamously antigay Mike Pence, an apparent proponent of the dangerous practice of conversion therapy.

In addition to making his beautiful skate in PyeongChang, Rippon has also announced he won't attend the White House reception held for the Olympians. Rather, he plans to hold a fundraiser for LGBT causes. He's also been forthright about eating disorders among male skaters, a subject that is rarely ever discussed.

Beyond his inherent activism, Rippon's heart belongs to the ice, as evidenced by his command of it in his performances. And a charming interview of a 13-year-old Rippon discussing his love of the sport and his dreams of making it to the Olympics is proof positive that he's right where he needs to be.

Watch the interview that aired on a Pennsylvania TV station in 2003.

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Tracy E. Gilchrist

Tracy E. Gilchrist is the VP, Executive Producer of Entertainment for the Advocate Channel. A media veteran, she writes about the intersections of LGBTQ+ equality and pop culture. Previously, she was the editor-in-chief of The Advocate and the first feminism editor for the 55-year-old brand. In 2017, she launched the company's first podcast, The Advocates. She is an experienced broadcast interviewer, panel moderator, and public speaker who has delivered her talk, "Pandora's Box to Pose: Game-changing Visibility in Film and TV," at universities throughout the country.

Tracy E. Gilchrist is the VP, Executive Producer of Entertainment for the Advocate Channel. A media veteran, she writes about the intersections of LGBTQ+ equality and pop culture. Previously, she was the editor-in-chief of The Advocate and the first feminism editor for the 55-year-old brand. In 2017, she launched the company's first podcast, The Advocates. She is an experienced broadcast interviewer, panel moderator, and public speaker who has delivered her talk, "Pandora's Box to Pose: Game-changing Visibility in Film and TV," at universities throughout the country.