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Adam Rippon of Clarks Summit, Pa., won three medals on the 2007 Junior Grand Prix series including gold at the Junior Grand Prix Final |
Birth Date November 11, 1989 |
| Hometown Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania |
| Training Town Hackensack, New Jersey |
| Home Club SC of New York |
| Coach Nikolai Morosov |
| Choreographer Nikolai Morosov |
Adam Rippon just wanted to improve his personal bests this season.
Mission accomplished.
On his way to winning the Junior Grand Prix Final in December, Rippon set a personal best in the short program (68.43), free skate (134.77) and overall (203.20). He smashed previous personal bests set earlier in the season when he took gold at 2007 Junior Grand Prix Romania and silver at Junior Grand Prix Bulgaria.
"Last year I wasn't even invited to compete and this year I had won," Rippon said in an October journal entry. "Standing on the podium, watching the American flag go up while listening to my national anthem was just an amazing feeling."
Rippon said his most defining moment came prior to the season when he switched coaches from Yelena Sergeeva to Nikoli Morozov. Under Sergeeva, he finished sixth at 2005 Junior Grand Prix Croatia and first at 2005 Triglav Trophy.
On the national level, Rippon finished sixth in 2007 and 11th in 2006 while competing as a junior man. He also won the silver medal at the 2005 U.S. Championships while competing in the novice event.
When Rippon is not on the ice, he enjoys listening to music. His favorite types are hip hop, Motown, pop and R&B but he cannot choose one favorite song because it changes every week.
Rippon, the oldest of six children in his family, will skate to Toccata and Fugue in D minor by J.S. Bach for his short program. His free skate is to selections of Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven.
For more information on Rippon, visit figureskatersonline.com/adamrippon/.
Figure Skaters Online's Guide to the 2008 U.S. Championships is
written and produced by Figure Skaters Online in cooperation with the athletes and staff.
Photographs are courtesy of Leah Adams unless otherwise noted.
Photo of Adam Rippon courtesy of Douglas Razzano.