Gay athlete takes figure-skating title
Adam Ripponwho publicly came out as gay last yearis the newest U.S. men's amateur figure-skating champion.
Rippon edged runner-up Max Aaron at the U.S. Championships in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Jan. 24 in a battle that has reignited the talk on athleticism versus artistry. While Aaron nailed two quadruple jumps ( and third-place finisher Nathan Chen nailed a record four ), Rippon fell on his only quad attempt during the long skate, but landed eight triple jumps, the Associated Press noted.
Rippon, 26, said, "It's not a jump competition; it's not a choreography competition, and it's not a spin competition. It takes a little bit of everything.''
Jason Brown, who was unable to defend his title because of back problems, petitioned to be added to the worlds team. However, Chen and Aaron will be sent along with Rippon, who was the only skater guaranteed a spot.
Gracie Gold took the women's championship Jan. 23.
The world championships start March 30 in Boston.
Olympics changing policy for trans athletes
The Olympics are reportedly opening the field of competition to transgender athletes, adopting an updated policy that reflects standards that other regulatory sports organizations, such as the NCAA, already employ, ESPN.com reported.
Outsports initially reported that, last November, the International Olympic Committee ( IOC ) received new proposed guidelines from its "Consensus Meeting on Sex Reassignment and Hyperandrogenism" that allow for broader policies for the inclusion of trans athletes.
IOC officials have yet to announce formally that the Games have adopted the new guidelines. However, said guidelines are already on the Olympics website.
The Olympics will take place Aug. 5-21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.