Episode 10: Adam Rippon

Fellow figure skater Adam Rippon joins Sasha for this week's episode. The two chat about the ups and downs of Adam's Olympic figure skating career, his decision to come out as gay while competing and his experience at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018. Adam shares his plans in retirement and how he’s found his love for entertaining without his skates on.

Show Notes

Show Notes: 

:28 – Career overlaps between Sasha and Adam 

1:31 – Missing two Olympic teams (2010, 2014) and debuting at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 

5:39 – Reflecting on and appreciating difficult career moments later in life 

7:01 – Being in the ESPN Body Issue after the Games 

8:18 – Adam finding his voice on Twitter and his infamous Twitter exchange with former Vice President Mike Pence

15:52 – Decision to come out ahead of the 2018 Games and become the first openly gay winter Olympian 

21:19 – Choosing coaches over his career

26:43 – How the team event at the Olympics changed Adam’s mindset 

29:25 – Life in retirement and leaving skating in the past 

31:48 – How being an athlete prepared him for life outside of sports 

36:22 – Adam’s memoir Beautiful on the Outside

40:02 – One piece of advice Adam would like to share 

41:10 – Olympic or Paralympic moment in life 

What is Sasha Sessions: A Team USA Podcast?

Exceptional individuals share the stories that shaped them, how they define identity, and the motivations, habits, and opportunities that led to personal reinvention. Guests feature athletes from all sports and backgrounds, whose accomplishments inspire millions on the Olympic & Paralympic stage, and people outside of sports, whose work has challenged how we think about the world today.