U.S. Figure Skating announced today that Adam Rippon, the reigning U.S. champion, has withdrawn from the 2017 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, scheduled to take place Jan. 14‐22, in Kansas City, Missouri, due to injury. Rippon broke his left foot and sprained the same ankle during an off‐ice warm-up on Friday, Jan. 6.
“I am heartbroken that I won’t be able to defend my title at the 2017 U.S. Championships,” Rippon said. “Despite breaking my foot in a fluke accident off the ice, I am determined to grow from this and come back ever stronger. I will use this as an opportunity to improve so that I can be fully prepared for next season and be at my very best to compete for a spot at the 2018 Olympic Games.”
Rippon is expected to be off the ice for eight to 12 weeks and will resume training with his medical team’s guidance.
U.S. Figure Skating also announced that Polina Edmunds, the reigning U.S. silver medalist, has withdrawn from the Championships as she continues to recover from a right foot bone bruise. “I’m disappointed that I will miss the 2017 U.S. Championships and wish all the athletes good luck in Kansas City,” Edmunds said. “I will continue to focus on my health and look forward to a full return to ice.”
The 2017 U.S. Championships commence Saturday, January 14 with the juvenile and intermediate levels. The novice level events get underway on Monday with the ladies short program; the juniors take the stage on Tuesday, January 17, opening with the pairs short program.
The senior events start on January 19 with the ladies short program.
U.S. Figure Skating announced the launch of Destination PyeongChang, a multi-dimensional campaign that will support U.S. figure skaters and programs leading up to the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. The campaign will kick off Saturday with the help of longtime U.S. Figure Skating corporate partner Smucker’s, which will support the Destination PyeongChang Family Tree program through a social media campaign that will unleash the power of the PB&J, the original all-American sandwich.
