Openly gay figure skater mak U.S. Olympic team and history

Contents:

• A BRIEF HISTORY OF OPENLY GAY OLYMPIANS
• ADAM RIPPON MAK HISTORY; BE FIRST OPENLY GAY U.S. MALE OLYMPIC SKATER
• OPENLY GAY FIGURE SKATER MAK U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM AND HISTORY
• JOHNNY {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}ONE OF THE SUPERSTARS OF FIGURE SKATG, JOHNNY WEIR IS A THREE-TIME U.S. CHAMPN, A TWO-TIME OLYMPIAN AND A WORLD CHAMPNSHIPS {LOR:#323232;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: APR 15, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{LOR:#595959;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}(PHOTO: ANTTI AIMO-KOIVISTO/AFP/GETTYIMAG){FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} EM{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}(1984-){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO IS JOHNNY WEIR?BORN 1984 COATVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, JOHNNY WEIR WAS 11 YEARS OLD WHEN HE FIRST LEARNED TO SKATE. IN 2001, HE WON THE WORLD JUNR CHAMPNSHIPS. HE LATER WON THREE U.S. FIGURE SKATG CHAMPNSHIPS TL AND PETED TWO WTER OLYMPICS. OFF-ICE, HE'S APPEARED SEVERAL FILMS AND TELEVISN PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS HOSTED HIS OWN REALY TV SERI, BE GOOD JOHNNY WEIR. STARTG 2014 FOR THE WTER OLYMPICS SOCHI, WEIR TEAMED UP WH OLYMPIC ICE SKATER {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}TARA LIPSKI, AND THE DUO HAS BEEN VERG OLYMPIC AND ICE SKATG EVENTS FOR NBC AND HAVE BRANCHG OUT TO LIFTYLE {--DATA-EMBED-DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;CLEAR:BOTH;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;WIDTH:100%;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 20REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 30REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 40.625REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 75REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}} A SPAN{RIGHT:1REM;} IMG{WIDTH:TO;HEIGHT:85VH;} A{DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-LE-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:LE-FLEX;POSN:VAR(--POSN, RELATIVE);} IMG:NOT(.EWCW41W1){DISPLAY:BLOCK;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;-WEBK-ALIGN-SELF:FLEX-START;-MS-FLEX-EM-ALIGN:FLEX-START;ALIGN-SELF:FLEX-START;}{WIDTH:100%;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-LE-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:LE-FLEX;-WEBK-FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;-MS-FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 20REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 30REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 40.625REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}{WIDTH:0;M-WIDTH:100%;PADDG-TOP:0.625REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;MARG-BOTTOM:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.4;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} EM{FONT-FAY:CHARTERITALIC,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}JOHNNY WEIR OF USA SKATG DURG THE MEN’S SHORT PROGRAM OF 2012 FLANDIA TROPHY ESPOO INTERNATNAL FIGURE SKATG PETN ESPOO, ON OCTOBER 5, 2012. {PADDG-LEFT:0REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;}(PHOTO: ANTTI AIMO-KOIVISTO/AFP/GETTYIMAG)EARLY YEARSJOHN GARV "JOHNNY" WEIR WAS BORN ON JULY 2, 1984, COATVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA. SHY AND UNASSUMG AS A KID, WEIR STGGLED TO F WH OTHER KIDS HIS AGE. "I WAS THE AWKWARD, SKNY, SMART, DRIVEN KID," WEIR ONCE RELLED. "I WAS AN HONOR ROLL STUNT. I SPOKE FLUENT FRENCH. I WAS A B ANTISOCIAL. I N'T SAY THAT I HAD A REALLY BOOMG SOCIAL LIFE."PATTI WEIRHIS MOTHER, PATTI MOORE WEIR, WORKED AS A HOME SPECTOR, WHILE HIS FATHER JOHN WEIR, A FORMER HIGH SCHOOL LEBACKER, HARDLY WORKED AT ALL. HE WAS JURED A R ACCINT THE YEAR OF HIS SON'S BIRTH AND HURT HIS BACK, FORCG HIM TO GO ON DISABILY.HOW OLD WAS JOHNNY WEIR WHEN HE STARTED SKATG?WEIR WAS ALREADY 11 YEARS OLD WHEN HE FIRST STRAPPED ON A PAIR OF SKAT AND TRIED TO MAKE HIS WAY AROUND PATCH OF ICE THE BACKYARD OF HIS HOME RAL QUARRYVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA. WH A WEEK HE WAS PERFORMG A SUCCSFUL AXEL JUMP. WHILE NOT FLH WH DISPOSABLE E, WEIR'S PARENTS SUPPORTED HIS SKATG AS BT THEY ULD. AND THEY WATCHED ASTONISHMENT AS THEIR SON QUICKLY MOVED UP THROUGH THE RANKS. WH A YEAR OF WEIR FIRST GETTG VOLVED THE SPORT, THE FAY MOVED TO NEW JERSEY SO HE ULD LIVE CLOSER TO HIS ACH AND RK.INTERNATNAL SKATG SUCCSJT FIVE YEARS AFTER FIRST TRYG ON A PAIR OF SKAT, WEIR WON THE GOLD MEDAL AT THE 2001 WORLD JUNR CHAMPNSHIPS. THREE YEARS LATER, WEIR WON HIS FIRST U.S. FIGURE SKATG CHAMPNSHIP, A TLE HE FEND SUCCSFULLY 2005 AND 2006. AT THE 2006 WTER OLYMPICS TUR, ITALY, WEIR PROVED TO BE A STAR. JOURNALISTS FLOCKED TO THE MEDIA-SAVVY WEIR, A VERABLE QUOTE MACHE WHO END UP FISHG FIFTH OVERALL. FOUR YEARS LATER, AT THE 2010 WTER GAM VANUVER, CANADA, WEIR FISHED SIXTH.JOHNNY WEIR AND TARA LIPSKISTARTG WH THE 2014 OLYMPICS SOCHI, THE ICE SKATG DUO RONATED WH DIENC AND ED SOCIAL MEDIA TO BRG NEW FANS. WEIR AND LIPSKI WERE SO WELL RECEIVED ON NBC THAT THEY WERE ASKED TO VER EVERY MAJOR FIGURE SKATG EVENT FOR THE WORK GOG FORWARD. “WE’RE VERY PROUD TO TE PEOPLE A DIFFERENT WAY THAN MAYBE THEY HAVE OVER THE LAST MANY MOONS,” WEIR SAID AN TERVIEW DECEMBER 2017. “TARA AND I DO THGS MORE NVERSATNALLY. WE’RE VERY DIRECT WH OUR DIENCE, AND ’S A HUGE DIENCE FOR TO BE RRYG FIGURE SKATG.”WEIR AND LIPSKI HAVE ALSO GRADUATED BEYOND THE ICE SKATG RK AND POSNED THEMSELV AS LIFTYLE PERSONALI. THEY WORKED THE RED RPET AS FASHN MENTATORS AT THE 86TH AMY AWARDS AND HAVE ALSO APPEARED AT THE KENTUCKY DERBY 2014, THE SUPER BOWL 2015 AND THE NATNAL DOG SHOW 2017, AMONG OTHER HIGH PROFILE EVENTS. PERSONAL LIFEWILY NSIRED FIGURE SKATG'S MOST OUTSPOKEN AND NTROVERSIAL ATHLETE, WEIR HAS GOTTEN TO VERBAL TSL WH FELLOW OLYMPIC SKATER EVAN LYSACEK. AT THE 2010 GAM HE UPSET ANTI-FUR ACTIVISTS BY STATG HIS SIRE TO RPORATE FUR TO HIS SKATG STUME. HIS LOVE OF THE LIMELIGHT, HOWEVER, HAS LED TO PLENTY OF OFF-ICE OPPORTUNI, CLUDG HIS OWN REALY TV SHOW, BE GOOD JOHNNY WEIR. HE ALSO APPEARED AN EPISO OF TLC'S SAY Y TO THE DRS 2012, WHICH HE TRIED ON A WEDDG DRS HIMSELF WHILE ACPANYG A BRI-TO-BE.COMG OUT LATERIN 2011, AFTER YEARS OF SPECULATN ABOUT HIS SEXUALY, WEIR ADMTED HE WAS GAY. HE MA THE ANNOUNCEMENT THROUGH HIS BGRAPHY, WELE TO MY WORLD. IN JANUARY 2018, ON THE HEELS OF ICE SKATER ADAM RIPPON BEG THE FIRST OPENLY GAY AMERIN MAN PARTICIPATG THE WTER OLYMPICS, WEIR EXPLAED VIA TWTER WHY HE CHOSE TO E OUT AFTER HIS SEND OLYMPICS AND NOT DURG.HE ADD:HBAND TO DIVORCéEON DECEMBER 20, 2012, WEIR MARRIED HIS BOYIEND, VICTOR VORONOV, NEW YORK CY. THE UPLE DIVORCED {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS
• ADAM RIPPON IS U.S.'S FIRST OPENLY GAY MAN TO QUALIFY FOR WTER OLYMPICS
• GAY ATHLET ARE MAKG HISTORY AT THE 2018 WTER OLYMPICS
• OLYMPIANS ADAM RIPPON AND G KENWORTHY ON MIKE PENCE, VISIBILY, AND BEG GAY INS
• U.S. FIGURE SKATER ADAM RIPPON BE FIRST OPENLY GAY MAN TO MEDAL WTER OLYMPIC GAM
• BRIAN BOANO ANNOUNC HE'S GAY BEFORE TRIP TO SOCHI

A BRIEF HISTORY OF OPENLY GAY OLYMPIANS

"I thk ’s amazg, " fellow figure skater Jason Brown, who me out as gay last summer, said of the number of LGBTQ athlet petg Beijg. An Iowa native, they first told their parents at 18 that they were gay, then me out as nonbary more than a later. Figure skater Adam Rippon will be one of two openly gay Amerins petg the 2018 Wter Olympics, a first for the U.

But there’s one thg Rippon won’t be hidg – this year, he and etyle skier G Kenworthy will bee the first openly gay Amerin men to ever pete the Wter Olympics.

There are gay role mols at every turn – on televisn, on lol sports, and our muni. Even so, the last time that the Uned Stat sent an openly gay man to any Olympic Gam was 2004, when equtrians Guenter Seil and Robert Dover won bronze team drsage.

ADAM RIPPON MAK HISTORY; BE FIRST OPENLY GAY U.S. MALE OLYMPIC SKATER

It was Dover’s sixth time reprentg the Uned Stat at the Olympics; durg his send Gam, 1988, Dover me out, beg the first openly gay athlete to pete the morn Olympics. "I wish that all gay athlet would e out all discipl – football, baseball, the Olympics, whatever, " Dover has said.

Ined, by the time Dover me out on the ternatnal stage, was clear that gay athlet were petg and wng all levels of profsnal sports. ) And 1982, former Olympian Tom Wadll – who would die om AIDS at the height of the epimic five years later – helped found the first Gay Gam for LGBT athlet.

But was more than a earlier when an openly gay athlete first performed the Olympic Gam. Curry acknowledged that the mors about his sexualy were te, but when journalists asked prient qutns betrayg the era’s misnceptns about homosexualy and masculy, Curry fought back: “I don’t thk I lack virily, and what other people thk of me don’t matter, ” he said.

OPENLY GAY FIGURE SKATER MAK U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM AND HISTORY

” (It should be noted as well that homosexual acts were outlawed the U. There, a fiery, unflchg athletic spectacle, Curry abandoned his ual lively route of skips and hops for a stern technil masterpiece, makg him the first openly gay athlete to perform on the Olympic stage.

JOHNNY {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}ONE OF THE SUPERSTARS OF FIGURE SKATG, JOHNNY WEIR IS A THREE-TIME U.S. CHAMPN, A TWO-TIME OLYMPIAN AND A WORLD CHAMPNSHIPS {LOR:#323232;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: APR 15, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{LOR:#595959;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}(PHOTO: ANTTI AIMO-KOIVISTO/AFP/GETTYIMAG){FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} EM{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}(1984-){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO IS JOHNNY WEIR?BORN 1984 COATVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, JOHNNY WEIR WAS 11 YEARS OLD WHEN HE FIRST LEARNED TO SKATE. IN 2001, HE WON THE WORLD JUNR CHAMPNSHIPS. HE LATER WON THREE U.S. FIGURE SKATG CHAMPNSHIPS TL AND PETED TWO WTER OLYMPICS. OFF-ICE, HE'S APPEARED SEVERAL FILMS AND TELEVISN PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS HOSTED HIS OWN REALY TV SERI, BE GOOD JOHNNY WEIR. STARTG 2014 FOR THE WTER OLYMPICS SOCHI, WEIR TEAMED UP WH OLYMPIC ICE SKATER {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}TARA LIPSKI, AND THE DUO HAS BEEN VERG OLYMPIC AND ICE SKATG EVENTS FOR NBC AND HAVE BRANCHG OUT TO LIFTYLE {--DATA-EMBED-DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;CLEAR:BOTH;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;WIDTH:100%;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 20REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 30REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 40.625REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 75REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}} A SPAN{RIGHT:1REM;} IMG{WIDTH:TO;HEIGHT:85VH;} A{DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-LE-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:LE-FLEX;POSN:VAR(--POSN, RELATIVE);} IMG:NOT(.EWCW41W1){DISPLAY:BLOCK;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;-WEBK-ALIGN-SELF:FLEX-START;-MS-FLEX-EM-ALIGN:FLEX-START;ALIGN-SELF:FLEX-START;}{WIDTH:100%;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-LE-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:LE-FLEX;-WEBK-FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;-MS-FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 20REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 30REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 40.625REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}{WIDTH:0;M-WIDTH:100%;PADDG-TOP:0.625REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;MARG-BOTTOM:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.4;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} EM{FONT-FAY:CHARTERITALIC,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}JOHNNY WEIR OF USA SKATG DURG THE MEN’S SHORT PROGRAM OF 2012 FLANDIA TROPHY ESPOO INTERNATNAL FIGURE SKATG PETN ESPOO, ON OCTOBER 5, 2012. {PADDG-LEFT:0REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;}(PHOTO: ANTTI AIMO-KOIVISTO/AFP/GETTYIMAG)EARLY YEARSJOHN GARV "JOHNNY" WEIR WAS BORN ON JULY 2, 1984, COATVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA. SHY AND UNASSUMG AS A KID, WEIR STGGLED TO F WH OTHER KIDS HIS AGE. "I WAS THE AWKWARD, SKNY, SMART, DRIVEN KID," WEIR ONCE RELLED. "I WAS AN HONOR ROLL STUNT. I SPOKE FLUENT FRENCH. I WAS A B ANTISOCIAL. I N'T SAY THAT I HAD A REALLY BOOMG SOCIAL LIFE."PATTI WEIRHIS MOTHER, PATTI MOORE WEIR, WORKED AS A HOME SPECTOR, WHILE HIS FATHER JOHN WEIR, A FORMER HIGH SCHOOL LEBACKER, HARDLY WORKED AT ALL. HE WAS JURED A R ACCINT THE YEAR OF HIS SON'S BIRTH AND HURT HIS BACK, FORCG HIM TO GO ON DISABILY.HOW OLD WAS JOHNNY WEIR WHEN HE STARTED SKATG?WEIR WAS ALREADY 11 YEARS OLD WHEN HE FIRST STRAPPED ON A PAIR OF SKAT AND TRIED TO MAKE HIS WAY AROUND PATCH OF ICE THE BACKYARD OF HIS HOME RAL QUARRYVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA. WH A WEEK HE WAS PERFORMG A SUCCSFUL AXEL JUMP. WHILE NOT FLH WH DISPOSABLE E, WEIR'S PARENTS SUPPORTED HIS SKATG AS BT THEY ULD. AND THEY WATCHED ASTONISHMENT AS THEIR SON QUICKLY MOVED UP THROUGH THE RANKS. WH A YEAR OF WEIR FIRST GETTG VOLVED THE SPORT, THE FAY MOVED TO NEW JERSEY SO HE ULD LIVE CLOSER TO HIS ACH AND RK.INTERNATNAL SKATG SUCCSJT FIVE YEARS AFTER FIRST TRYG ON A PAIR OF SKAT, WEIR WON THE GOLD MEDAL AT THE 2001 WORLD JUNR CHAMPNSHIPS. THREE YEARS LATER, WEIR WON HIS FIRST U.S. FIGURE SKATG CHAMPNSHIP, A TLE HE FEND SUCCSFULLY 2005 AND 2006. AT THE 2006 WTER OLYMPICS TUR, ITALY, WEIR PROVED TO BE A STAR. JOURNALISTS FLOCKED TO THE MEDIA-SAVVY WEIR, A VERABLE QUOTE MACHE WHO END UP FISHG FIFTH OVERALL. FOUR YEARS LATER, AT THE 2010 WTER GAM VANUVER, CANADA, WEIR FISHED SIXTH.JOHNNY WEIR AND TARA LIPSKISTARTG WH THE 2014 OLYMPICS SOCHI, THE ICE SKATG DUO RONATED WH DIENC AND ED SOCIAL MEDIA TO BRG NEW FANS. WEIR AND LIPSKI WERE SO WELL RECEIVED ON NBC THAT THEY WERE ASKED TO VER EVERY MAJOR FIGURE SKATG EVENT FOR THE WORK GOG FORWARD. “WE’RE VERY PROUD TO TE PEOPLE A DIFFERENT WAY THAN MAYBE THEY HAVE OVER THE LAST MANY MOONS,” WEIR SAID AN TERVIEW DECEMBER 2017. “TARA AND I DO THGS MORE NVERSATNALLY. WE’RE VERY DIRECT WH OUR DIENCE, AND ’S A HUGE DIENCE FOR TO BE RRYG FIGURE SKATG.”WEIR AND LIPSKI HAVE ALSO GRADUATED BEYOND THE ICE SKATG RK AND POSNED THEMSELV AS LIFTYLE PERSONALI. THEY WORKED THE RED RPET AS FASHN MENTATORS AT THE 86TH AMY AWARDS AND HAVE ALSO APPEARED AT THE KENTUCKY DERBY 2014, THE SUPER BOWL 2015 AND THE NATNAL DOG SHOW 2017, AMONG OTHER HIGH PROFILE EVENTS. PERSONAL LIFEWILY NSIRED FIGURE SKATG'S MOST OUTSPOKEN AND NTROVERSIAL ATHLETE, WEIR HAS GOTTEN TO VERBAL TSL WH FELLOW OLYMPIC SKATER EVAN LYSACEK. AT THE 2010 GAM HE UPSET ANTI-FUR ACTIVISTS BY STATG HIS SIRE TO RPORATE FUR TO HIS SKATG STUME. HIS LOVE OF THE LIMELIGHT, HOWEVER, HAS LED TO PLENTY OF OFF-ICE OPPORTUNI, CLUDG HIS OWN REALY TV SHOW, BE GOOD JOHNNY WEIR. HE ALSO APPEARED AN EPISO OF TLC'S SAY Y TO THE DRS 2012, WHICH HE TRIED ON A WEDDG DRS HIMSELF WHILE ACPANYG A BRI-TO-BE.COMG OUT LATERIN 2011, AFTER YEARS OF SPECULATN ABOUT HIS SEXUALY, WEIR ADMTED HE WAS GAY. HE MA THE ANNOUNCEMENT THROUGH HIS BGRAPHY, WELE TO MY WORLD. IN JANUARY 2018, ON THE HEELS OF ICE SKATER ADAM RIPPON BEG THE FIRST OPENLY GAY AMERIN MAN PARTICIPATG THE WTER OLYMPICS, WEIR EXPLAED VIA TWTER WHY HE CHOSE TO E OUT AFTER HIS SEND OLYMPICS AND NOT DURG.HE ADD:HBAND TO DIVORCéEON DECEMBER 20, 2012, WEIR MARRIED HIS BOYIEND, VICTOR VORONOV, NEW YORK CY. THE UPLE DIVORCED {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS

LGBT journalists and historians, cludg Zeigler and Tony Scupham-Bilton, have talogued the many Olympians who were homosexual but peted a time before beg “out” was safe and acceptable. German nner Otto Peltzer, for stance, peted the 1928 and 1932 Olympics, but was arrted by the Nazis 1934 for his homosexualy and was later sent to the ncentratn mps.

Louganis was long mored to be gay, but didn’t e out publicly until the openg ceremoni of the 1994 Gay Gam: "Wele to the Gay Gam, ” Louganis said to the crowd.

Though the early history of openly gay Olympians is dotted wh male athlet, openly gay women have quietly gaed prevalence recent petns.

ADAM RIPPON IS U.S.'S FIRST OPENLY GAY MAN TO QUALIFY FOR WTER OLYMPICS

At the 2008 Summer Olympics Beijg, 11 openly gay athlet peted, only one of whom – Atralian diver Matthew Mcham, who won gold and is a vol LGBT activist – was a man. All six openly gay athlet at the 2010 Wter Olympics Vanuver were women, as were all seven of the openly gay athlet at the 2014 Wter Olympics Sochi.

GAY ATHLET ARE MAKG HISTORY AT THE 2018 WTER OLYMPICS

Both of the terveng Summer Olympics saw a greater turnout of openly gay athlet, but women still held the large majory. Women’s basketball team – Delle Donne, Brtney Grer, Seimone Augt and Angel McCoughtry––were openly gay. Wh this year’s Wter Gam Pyeongchang, Rippon and Kenworthy are the first openly gay Amerin men to pete the Olympics sce the legaly of same-sex marriage was tablished throughout the Uned Stat 2015, and the cultural shift is apparent.

“In the 20th century there was more homophobia sport and society general.

OLYMPIANS ADAM RIPPON AND G KENWORTHY ON MIKE PENCE, VISIBILY, AND BEG GAY INS

The summer before hostg the Wter Olympics, what many saw as an afont to gay rights activism, the Rsian ernment passed a law prohibg the promotn of “nontradnal” sexual relatnships to mors. The Uned Stat ed the Olympic platform as an opportuny for subtle prott, cludg proment gay athlet Brian Boano, Billie Jean Kg and Cal Cahow s Olympic legatn, and protts were staged across the world.

Rippon recently ma headl when he refed an offer to meet wh Vice Print Mike Pence due to disagreements wh his stanc on LGBT rights – which clu past statements that appear to support fundg gay nversn therapy.

Pence’s former prs secretary nied his support for gay nversn therapy durg the 2016 printial mpaign. Gay Rights,. Adam Rippon will bee the first openly gay U.

U.S. FIGURE SKATER ADAM RIPPON BE FIRST OPENLY GAY MAN TO MEDAL WTER OLYMPIC GAM

Olympic team on Sunday, will bee the first openly gay U.

BRIAN BOANO ANNOUNC HE'S GAY BEFORE TRIP TO SOCHI

Rippon also has a sense of humor about beg a role mol, jokg that beg a gay athlete is “exactly like beg a straight athlete except wh better eyebrows.

“I hope somebody who was my sho when I was younger n see me and have that feelg of, ‘yeah, beg gay rocks.