In his play, As You Like It, Shakespeare wrote: “All the world’s a stage and men and women are merely players. They have their exits and entrances … “ Cue the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Korea.
Photo Courtesy of Twitter
For the medalists, there will be corporate sponsorships much like that of Max Factor’s waterproof makeup for America’s Olympic gold medal synchronized swimmers. And Milk who sponsored the fastest woman runner in the world, Olympian silver and gold medalist, FloJo. And countless others. Many of whom got professional Los Angeles media training before spokespersoning.
But for now, these “amateur” athletes are using the world’s stage and their roles on it to promote their own causes on social media.
Adam Rippon, the first openly gay U.S. male figure skater to qualify for the Olympics, has become what some are calling a “social media sensation.” He missed qualifying for the Vancouver Olympics in 2010 and was passed over for the Sochi Olympics in 2014 Olympics, but has emerged as a winner on many fronts in 2018.
Photo Courtesy of Elite Daily
Mr. Rippon, who thus far has helped Team USA men’s figure skating win a bronze, blasted the choice of Vice President Mike Pence to lead the U.S. delegation at the Olympics. In an interview with USA Today, he said, “You mean Mike Pence, the same Mike Pence who funded gay conversion therapy in 2000?”
Very different
At 28, he jokes about being the oldest figure skater on the ice, the oldest since 1939 to make his first trip to the Games and very, very different.
“And I think maybe that’s what people are kind of latching onto, that my story’s different. That I’m different, and I think on some level we all feel sort of different. When we are embraced for who we are and speak our minds, it’s awesome.
Surprised
“I’m a little surprised that it’s 2018 and I’m the first,” he told TIME Magazine. “In this day and age, I think it’s so important to be visible and stand up for what you believe in and let the young kids know that it’s OK to be yourself.” In a news conference, Mr. Rippon discussed how he knows what it’s like to be the kid, who’s an outsider. Many young children, who feel as though they don’t fit in, themselves, have written letters to Mr. Rippon, asking for his advice.
A Teen Vogue op/ed piece quoted Mr. Rippon as saying that skating saved him and allowed him to be himself. “It was my outlet. That if I didn’t feel comfortable sharing my feelings and thoughts, I was able to go out on the ice and express them.”
And Mr. Rippon now uses his Twitter to express everything from self-deprecating jokes to insightful messages on how far he has come in his career.
If at first you don’t succeed, try … try … try again.