The Winter Olympics are under a month away, but the controversy is just beginning. With Team USA beginning to take shape, athletes and delegates are packing their bags for PyeongChang, South Korea. Leading that delegation will be the second most powerful person in the United States, Vice President Mike Pence. Not everyone is thrilled with that decision, though. One competitor speaking out is a Figure Skater who has a particular gripe with Pence.

Figure skater Adam Rippon speaks out

For about a week, the world has known that Pence would be the symbolic representative for the United States during the Winter Games in South Korea.

For just a little bit longer, Adam Rippon knew he would be representing the country as one of the world's best figure skaters. He would also be representing the country as their first openly-gay Olympic athlete entering the competition. The vice president has a checkered history when it comes to his treatment of the LGBTQ community.

While speaking to USA Today Sports on Tuesday (Jan. 16), Rippon made his feelings of Pence perfectly clear. The 28-year-old figure skater brought up the vice president's controversial support of gay conversion therapy. He also stated that he didn't plan on meeting the vice president during any of the traditional gatherings brought on by the Olympics. Rippon did call the vice president more "mild-mannered" than the president, Donald Trump.

Nevertheless, Rippon is proud to represent his country, even if he doesn't support the people in charge of it.

Out Olympic representation

While Rippon will be the first openly gay athlete representing the country at the Olympics, there have been prior attempts to include the marginalized community in the event.

Just four years ago, President Barack Obama asked several openly-gay athletes to be part of the delegation in Sochi, Russia, a country with a poor human rights record in regards to the LGBTQ community. Those athletes included Billie Jean King, Caitlin Cahow, and former figure skater Brian Boitano.

At some point, it won't be news for the LGBTQ to get adequate representation in events such as the Olympic Games.

For now, it's news and significant news at that. Rippon is ready to honor Team USA in South Korea, even if those in charge of the country don't seem inclined to honor him in the same way. His best form of revenge? To win Olympic gold and beam with joy upon receiving his gold medal.
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