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winter olympics

Heroes

Mexican figure skater Donovan Carrillo has already made Olympic history just by competing

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Donovan Carrillo pursued his dreams and now is making history.

While other kids were playing soccer, young Donovan Carrillo had other dreams. Despite living in the warm and temperate climate of Mexico, Carrillo had a singular vision of grabbing gold at the Winter Olympics.

donovan carrillo has already accomplished so much in his olympic debut!!! #Olympics #FigureSkating pic.twitter.com/YvQsvhGuQN
— ️️dani (@goIdenwaItz) February 8, 2022

And now, win or lose, this passionate figure skater has already become a huge success story at the Beijing Winter Games, becoming the first Mexican to advance to the Olympic free skate final event.

“I always wanted to be at the Olympics,” Carrillo told NBC after his performance Tuesday. “I used to talk about this dream with people. They were always laughing or telling me that it was impossible for a Mexican to qualify.”

Dreams do come true! 😍

📷: @DonovanDCarr pic.twitter.com/mtkAZMmxbM
— Olympics (@Olympics) February 8, 2022

In addition to dealing with the fact that Mexico has no competitive winter sports leagues, Carrillo was often called “a girl” for his interest in figure skating, telling the Associated Press that “they sometimes even think that to practice an artistic sport, it’s going to affect your (sexual) preferences as a person. I never thought that. I think that’s one of the reasons of why we don’t have many male skaters in my country.”

Donovan Carrillo, who practices in a shopping mall ice rink, is the first skater from Mexico to qualify for the Olympic free skate. 🥰 pic.twitter.com/qZFBl4LVYr
— Billy B (@billyburke87) February 8, 2022

Throughout his pursuit, Carrillo never let the naysaying keep him down. Instead, he became more resourceful, training alongside girls and practicing in the ice rinks of shopping malls. Imagine having to perfect your pirouette while dodging families and amateur hockey players.

Hard work and determination paid off, because Carillo found himself in Beijing, bearing the flag of Mexico at the opening ceremony.

donovan carrillo is such a vibe#olympics pic.twitter.com/D67FTX2RBZ
— 🌬 (@sanika1020_) February 10, 2022

Carrillo’s entire Olympic debut has been an homage to his heritage: blades displaying the green, white and red color of the Mexican flag, a sparkling black and gold costume designed by Mexican fashion designer Edgar Lozzano, and using music from his father’s favorite band, Santana.

“It’s something that I always try to do with my performance, to involve the Mexican culture,” Carrillo told AP.

Donovan Carrillo is the first Mexican in over 30 years to represent Mexico in ice skating at the Winter Olympics LETS GOOOOOOO pic.twitter.com/75w5UTOf6K
— Estefanía (@estyledesma) February 8, 2022

Fast forward to Tuesday (Feb 8), and Carrillo delivered a stunning, career-best, history-making performance in the short program, nailing the quad toe loop and landing an insane triple axel.

The score of 79.69 takes Carrillo to the longer free skate competition, a never-before seen feat from his country, making the 22-year-old athlete Mexico's most successful figure skater in history.

Carrillo might have been pressed with overwhelming obstacles, but he proved to the world that dreams are worth pursuing.

From Your Site Articles

Trump Jr. attacked Adam Rippon — except he got the facts wrong.

This is Olympian Adam Rippon — a self-proclaimed "glamazon bitch" and aspiring "America's sweetheart."

Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images.

He's the first openly gay American man to qualify for the winter games. So — on top of his bronze-winning performance and viral one-liners — the historic nature of his qualifying has put an extra-bright spotlight on his stay in South Korea.

Also, he's not a fan of Vice President Mike Pence.

Pence was chosen by the White House to lead the U.S. delegation at the games. Rippon — noting the vice president's support for anti-LGBTQ public policies — wasn't on-board. "You mean Mike Pence — the same Mike Pence that funded gay conversion therapy?” the 28-year-old quipped to USA Today in January. “I’m not buying it.”

Many people have applauded Rippon's openly queer presence at the games and his candidness when it comes to politics. Donald Trump Jr. hasn't been one of them.

Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images.

After Rippon told reporters in South Korea he doesn't "want [his] Olympic experience being about Mike Pence," the president's son went on the offensive.

"Really?" Trump Jr. tweeted. "Then perhaps you shouldn't have spent the past few weeks talking about him. I haven't heard him mention you once???"

— (@)

Clearly, Trump Jr. hadn't Googled before tweeting, because his remark isn't all that accurate. In interviews in South Korea, Rippon has largely focused on the games and his performances, only mentioning Pence when asked about the vice president directly by reporters.

At the same time, Pence certainly has mentioned Rippon.

Pence has helped fuel the perception of an ongoing feud between the vice president and Olympian.

Rippon's remarks blasting Pence's past support for gay conversion therapy seems to have gotten under the V.P.'s skin. His press secretary Alyssa Farah responded to the accusations by Rippon as "totally false," with "no basis in fact."

But — again, for the millionth time — that's not the case.

As The New York times reported in 2016, Pence's congressional campaign website from 2000 clearly stated his support for the dangerous practice. It read: "Resources should be directed toward those institutions which provide assistance to those seeking to change their sexual behavior."

That didn't stop the vice president from brushing off Rippon's accusations and deeming the story "fake news." "[Rippon], I want you to know we are FOR YOU," the vice president tweeted on Feb. 7. "Don’t let fake news distract you."

— (@)

Pence also reportedly went through the extraordinary step to set up a meeting with Rippon as well, but the Olympian — much to fanfare of LGBTQ advocates everywhere — declined the offer. (Pence's office denied the vice president attempted to arrange a face-to-face, but Rippon's agent said the reports claiming otherwise were "100% true.")

If Pence wanted this story to die in January, he's certainly done a terrible job extinguishing the flames.

In the wake of Trump Jr.'s tweet, actor Ike Barinholtz called out the president's son for causing a distraction.

"Nothing more patriotic than taunting a U.S. Olympic athlete during the Olympics," he wrote on Twitter.

— (@)

Rippon replied to Barinholtz with a lighthearted quip: "The tea is exceptionally good today."

— (@)

Go get 'em, Adam.

Tonga's oiled-up Olympic flag bearer is once again showing us how to be our best selves.

Yes, he's hot — but it's his spirit that's lit.

Tonga's oiled-up, shirtless flag bearer once again captured the world's adoring gaze during the Olympics opening ceremonies — this time, in frigid winter weather.

"I won't freeze. I am from Tonga. We sailed across the Pacific. This is nothing," Pita Taufatofua told the Olympics' news service. "It's a little bit warmer being in Rio than in here ... but anytime you get to represent your country is a good time."

Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images.

Taufatofua, 34, became a viral sensation during the 2016 Summer Olympics, and he's doing it all over again. This time, audiences are in awe of his commitment to bearing the 32-degree weather in Pyeongchang — without the benefit of a shirt or pants.

Fans from all over the world took to Twitter to root for Taufatofua and the country he represents.

— (@)

Taufatofua is, in fact, the ONLY representative for Tonga — and he had to learn a completely new sport just to compete.

Since Tonga is an island country, its Winter Olympic representation has been understandably sparse. But Taufatofua, who competed in taekwondo during the Rio Olympics, had his heart set on competing in 2018. To qualify for the Pyeongchang Games, he learned cross-country skiing in just a year, all while living in a nation where it actually doesn't snow. He said he'd never even seen snow until two years ago.

"It's the hardest thing I've ever done," he said about the sport.

But, inspiringly, all his training paid off — Taufatofua has become just the second athlete from Tonga to ever qualify for the Winter Olympics.

While U.S. athletes debate who should have carried their country's flag, Taufatofua is just happy to be here.

Tonga's inspiring story contrasts with a controversy surrounding the U.S. flag bearer. Gold-winning speed skater Shani Davis skipped the ceremony after saying he was unfairly passed over in favor of luge competitor Erin Hamlin during a tie-breaking coin toss.

Meanwhile, Taufatofua is continuing to promote the message of life-changing inspiration that has made him more than just a pretty face to millions of fans around the globe.

— (@)

The Olympics are about global unity. And nothing fosters harmony like an inspiring story of overcoming adversity ... and perfectly shined pecs.

In the rush to collect gold medals, it's easy to forget the games were created to foster peace and unity amongst the world's nations. Even as we marvel at his impressive physique, it's good to be reminded of Taufatofua's bigger message: "It's just an honour. I mean, how many countries in the Pacific get to go to a Winter Games?"

Hillary Clinton weighed in on America's openly gay Olympians.

Hillary Clinton isn't quite ready to sit still on the sidelines in U.S. politics — but she's more than happy to watch the Winter Olympics from there.

"I have to tell you, I shut my eyes [watching] the luge or the skeleton; that's too scary," Clinton said to laughs at the Makers Conference — a summit focused on women's issues — on Feb. 7 in New York City. "But I will open [my eyes] to see who's won."

After giving a rousing speech encouraging women to speak up and hit the voting booths in the 2018 midterms, Clinton was asked by Makers founder Dylan McGee what she was most looking forward to about the Pyeongchang Olympic Games in South Korea, which start Feb. 9.

The former secretary of state didn't hesitate to weigh in on a couple of athletes who have recently made waves in the political realm.

"I love the athleticism and the stories of our athletes," Clinton said. "I'm excited that Adam Rippon and Gus Kenworthy will be the first openly gay Olympians for the American team."

Photo by Lisa Lake/Getty Images for Geisinger Symposium.

The conference crowd roared in approval of the history-making Americans.

Rippon, a 28-year-old figure skater, will represent Team USA on the ice.

Photo by Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP/Getty Images.

And Kenworthy, a 26-year-old skier, will rock the red, white, and blue on the slopes.

Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images.

Clinton's embrace of America's first openly gay male Olympians at the Winter Games comes amid a contentious back and forth between Rippon and Vice President Mike Pence.

Pence was picked by the White House to lead the U.S. Olympic delegation in South Korea. And Rippon wasn't on board with the decision.

"You mean Mike Pence, the same Mike Pence that funded gay conversion therapy?" Rippon told USA Today, citing the vice president's cozy past with the harmful and homophobic practice. "I’m not buying it."

Photo by Pete Marovich/Getty Images.

Pence's team responded to Rippon's accusation that the vice president once supported conversion therapy by claiming Rippon's remarks were "totally false and has no basis in fact." On Feb. 7, Pence himself tweeted that "one reporter [is] trying to distort [an] 18-year-old non-story to sow seeds of division."

Headed to the Olympics to cheer on #TeamUSA. One reporter trying to distort 18 yr old nonstory to sow seeds of divi… https://t.co/Oe6bUNrARs
— Vice President Mike Pence Archived (@Vice President Mike Pence Archived) 1518066278

Pence's position on the issue in 2000, however, contradicts that defense.

"Resources should be directed toward those institutions which provide assistance to those seeking to change their sexual behavior," his congressional campaign website had read. It's difficult to read that as anything but his support of gay conversion therapy.

Rippon's comments had concerned the vice president so much, Pence took the extraordinary step of reaching out to the athlete to arrange a meeting, according to USA Today.

Much to the delight of many LGBTQ advocates online, however, the figure skater rejected Pence's offer. In a tweet on Jan. 20, Rippon suggested he may be open to speaking to the vice president after the competition in South Korea, but for now, he "personally [has] nothing to say to Mike Pence."

I personally have nothing to say to Mike Pence. Given the chance to talk after the Olympics, I would want to bring… https://t.co/lvGvEtDWCP
— Adam Rippon (@Adam Rippon) 1516463850

Kenworthy also took offense with the White House's decision to deem Pence the Olympic delegation leader. Sitting down with Ellen DeGeneres earlier in February, the skiier called the vice president "a bad fit" to lead Team USA: "I feel like the Olympics is all about inclusion and people coming together, and it seems like [Pence is] not really doing that."

He makes a great point.

Why should anyone feel pressured to respect a political leader who's railed against their rights for decades on end?

Clinton's admiration for the athletes — on and off the ice — struck quite a different chord.

"I'm going to be there cheering [Rippon and Kenworthy] on," she said to applause at the Makers summit. "Whether it's skating or skiing or anything else."

winter olympics

Mexican figure skater Donovan Carrillo has already made Olympic history just by competing

Trump Jr. attacked Adam Rippon — except he got the facts wrong.

This is Olympian Adam Rippon — a self-proclaimed "glamazon bitch" and aspiring "America's sweetheart."

Many people have applauded Rippon's openly queer presence at the games and his candidness when it comes to politics. Donald Trump Jr. hasn't been one of them.

After Rippon told reporters in South Korea he doesn't "want [his] Olympic experience being about Mike Pence," the president's son went on the offensive.

Pence has helped fuel the perception of an ongoing feud between the vice president and Olympian.

In the wake of Trump Jr.'s tweet, actor Ike Barinholtz called out the president's son for causing a distraction.

Rippon replied to Barinholtz with a lighthearted quip: "The tea is exceptionally good today."

Go get 'em, Adam.

Tonga's oiled-up Olympic flag bearer is once again showing us how to be our best selves.

Yes, he's hot — but it's his spirit that's lit.

Tonga's oiled-up, shirtless flag bearer once again captured the world's adoring gaze during the Olympics opening ceremonies — this time, in frigid winter weather.

Fans from all over the world took to Twitter to root for Taufatofua and the country he represents.

Taufatofua is, in fact, the ONLY representative for Tonga — and he had to learn a completely new sport just to compete.

While U.S. athletes debate who should have carried their country's flag, Taufatofua is just happy to be here.

The Olympics are about global unity. And nothing fosters harmony like an inspiring story of overcoming adversity ... and perfectly shined pecs.

Hillary Clinton weighed in on America's openly gay Olympians.

"I love the athleticism and the stories of our athletes," Clinton said. "I'm excited that Adam Rippon and Gus Kenworthy will be the first openly gay Olympians for the American team."

Rippon, a 28-year-old figure skater, will represent Team USA on the ice.

And Kenworthy, a 26-year-old skier, will rock the red, white, and blue on the slopes.

Pence was picked by the White House to lead the U.S. Olympic delegation in South Korea. And Rippon wasn't on board with the decision.

Rippon's comments had concerned the vice president so much, Pence took the extraordinary step of reaching out to the athlete to arrange a meeting, according to USA Today.

Why should anyone feel pressured to respect a political leader who's railed against their rights for decades on end?

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