The day before Adam Rippon left for Pyeongchang, photographer Aaron Jay Young went to Rippon's rink in Long Beach to capture the moment before he launched into fame.
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"My goal was to capture this moment right before he left, before his entire life would change... To show a sort of contemplation, vulnerability, focus," Young said. "As countless locals at the rink came up and wished him good luck throughout the shoot, you couldn't help but feel the energy, the buzz... Like something big was about to happen. And thats exactly what did."
Though Rippon looks lovely and composed as ever in the shoot, you can see a touch of nervousness in his eyes in these rare photos. He didn't know he had no reason to be nervous.
Photography: Aaron Jay Young
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