US Olympic Figure Skaters Adam Rippon And The ShibSibs Love YouTube

As the 2018 Winter Olympics roll on, American figure skaters have managed some moments of glory. In the team competition, strong performances from Adam Rippon and ice dancing pair Maia and Alex Shibutani helped the US earn a bronze medal.

Beyond their shared prowess on the ice, Rippon and the so-called “ShibSibs” share something else in common: They both love YouTube. Rippon has spoken of his love for the world’s top video site, and the ShibSibs run their own channel, on which they have more than 75,000 subscribers.

The ShibSibs channel, recently highlighted in a Slate piece, looks like a typical vlog. The Shibutanis share updates from tournaments and post “get ready with me” videos. Sometimes, they collaborate with other channels, such as Wong Fu Productions.

Rippon, on the other hand, doesn’t have his own channel, but browsing YouTube is one of his favorite leisure activities. “I usually kind of get lost in the abyss of YouTube, like, every night,” he told EW. “I really love Tyler Oakley’s stuff, and then it’s usually a downward spiral from there. Then, all of a sudden, I’m looking to see how to install a new thermostat in my house. Which is literally what I did the other day. I watched 30 minutes of how to install a thermostat. So if you do need help, you can call me, ’cause now I know!”

Should the ShibSibs turn in another fine performance in the upcoming ice dancing competition, they should expect many new subscribers. As for Rippon, perhaps he’ll celebrate his Olympic success by launching a channel of his own. He certainly has a big enough personality to be a YouTube star.