Adam Rippon is going to South Korea, to fulfill a dream.
The U.S. Olympic figure skater from Pennsylvania hasn't gotten there alone, though. With some help, he might not have to be in Pyeongchang alone, either.
A family friend established an effort on the popular fundraising and crowd-sourcing site Youcaring recently, hoping to raise money to bolster Rippon's support system once he begins competing in the men's competition Feb. 15. As of Wednesday morning, the drive has raised nearly half of its $20,000 goal, with every penny dedicated to sending as many of Rippon's five siblings — three brothers and two sisters — to the South Korea games as possible.
"I want to do all I can to get a few 'Bonus Rippons' to Korea so that Adam, 28, has a solid support system in place to join his mother in Pyeongchang," wrote Bryan McIntyre, a friend and former classmate of Rippon's younger brother Brady. "I was shocked to discover that traveling to and staying near the venue for the Winter Olympics is so expensive even in the most modest accommodations."
At first, the family from Clarks Summit was reticent to back a fundraising effort like this, hoping they could scratch together enough money on their own for brothers Tyler, Brady and Sawyer and sisters Dagny and Jordan to cheer him on in Pyeongchang. But two things became increasingly obvious: One is that budgetary issues would be a concern. The other is that the more people an athlete has around him at the Olympics, the better.
Adam on ice
Adam's mother Kelly Rippon — the only member of the family currently scheduled to be with Adam overseas — said airfare could cost as much as $1,500 per ticket to Pyeongchang, not to mention the cost of travel around the venues, decent hotel accommodations and ticket prices for the skating competitions that could cost up to $500 each, ultimately priced the entire family out of the experience.
"The USOC gives a grant to the athlete that they in turn share to offset expenses," Kelly said. "Adam transferred the entire grant to me, and, even though it is a generous amount, it falls short of the cost."
That's where McIntyre came in.
He convinced the family to give the social media fundraising platforms a try. As the donations came in, the Rippons began to realize they were getting something perhaps more valuable than money.
"On the page, we can see the individual names of people we've grown up knowing and who have known Adam through his skating. Just to see that specific gesture come to fruition, that's a great feeling," younger brother Brady said. "It makes this moment feel even better, this sense of pride we feel for Adam, because rather than it just be an athletic achievement, we're seeing these people come and support him, which has shown us the impact he has had on people personally. It has been great to see the NEPA community support Adam the way it has, and I think he gets a real sense of pride from the overwhelming support we've received so far."
Since Adam Rippon began competing at the senior level, it has been a rare occasion where any of his siblings have been able to watch him compete. When Brady watched him in the annual Skate America competition in Lake Placid, New York, in November, it marked the first time Adam had a sibling in the stands cheering him on.
If the next time is the first time for some or all of the rest of the "Bonus Rippons," the Olympics would be a dream come true for more than just Adam.
"For us, it obviously is a very special thing, to have the opportunity to go to the Olympics in and of itself," Brady said. "But to do it to support Adam, who we've seen the whole progression of his career, and to just be there for him in that moment, it would be incredible."
— Associated Press