Figure Skater Adam Rippon Rockets Up Olympics Odds Boards
American Olympian Adam Rippon has spent most of the lead-up to the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics ripping on US Vice President Mike Pence for being a homophobic idiot. Of course, that’s an easy target. However, once Rippon put politics aside, he rocketed up the odds boards – a much harder target – by turning in a stellar long program in the Team Figure Skating event. And while the US didn’t beat favorite Canada or Russia (who finished first and second, respectively), they did podium in third place, winning the Bronze medal in large part due to Rippon’s flawless performance.
While most Olympic figure skaters are on record saying that the Team event isn’t a priority (it’s more of an opportunity to get familiar with the rink and the judges going into the individual events), Rippon has used the platform to make his presence felt on the betting boards. At Bovada, before his Monday routine, Rippon was not listed at all. However, after his strong showing, Bovada now has him in seventh on their boards. He’s still a longshot to win Gold at +20000, but he’s getting wagering action from Olympics bettors, and that’s an achievement in and of itself.
Whether or not Rippon’s turn on the ice will translate into similar success during the individual circuit is anyone’s guess. However, increased confidence is rarely a bad thing in any sport, and – as co-favorite Nathan Chen (+180) is coming off a disastrous (if meaningless) outing in the Team short program – he might just be riding the highest among all current olympic betting odds leaders. And, as everyone knows, Rippon has a little extra motivation to place highly, too, as he’d like nothing better than to rub Pence’s nose in his victory. Though Pence may or may not be the bigot Rippon suggests he is, the skater certainly believes it, and there’s no better way to make a bully eat crow than by forcing him or her to congratulate you on a job well done.