Adam Rippon confirmed his retirement from competition in
CBS News' Note to Self series on Monday, Nov. 19.
The Olympic Team Event bronze medalist and 2016 U.S. champion reflected on his career in the piece as he addressed the 2014 version of himself who had failed to make the U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Team for the second consecutive time.
"It might not make sense right now, but this is truly one of the most important moments in your life," he said.
Though Rippon experienced early success as the first man to win back-to-back World Junior titles in 2008 and 2009, he almost hung up his skates following the 2014 disappointment - but he persevered and went on to win his U.S. title in 2016 at age 26.
"I felt like I had more to do, and I was doing myself an injustice if I didn't at least just try," he
said last season on his decision to continue to compete. "So many times, it takes a lot of courage to just try. I'm just going to give myself the shot and not going to worry about anything else. That was four years ago, so here I am. I gave myself a chance and I'm taking it."
Two years after becoming U.S. champion, he fulfilled his self-made promise and made the 2018 U.S. Olympic Team, becoming the first openly gay U.S. Winter Olympian and U.S. Winter Olympic medalist.
He last stepped on competitive ice at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, where he finished tenth in the individual competition, but had a busy summer on tour with Stars On Ice and a winning stint on the athletes-only season of
Dancing with the Stars. He has also already stepped into a new role this year as
Mariah Bell's choreographer instead of training mate.
To conclude his note to self, Rippon said, "You will look in the mirror and finally see a winner looking back at you. Now go out and conquer the world."
