apolo ohno: that's timothy leduc mom becky leduc, speaking from her home in cedar rapids, iowa, with her husband mike, about timothy coming out as gay. timothy leduc: it was very difficult with my family at first. but i was in a very christian, conservative environment, going to church so many times a week. i believed the lies that i was told-- that i was an abomination. apolo ohno: and timothy's parents believed those lies too. mike leduc: our first reaction, i remember, was-- i mean, inside, it was a little bit of a shock, and a little bit of-- of-- you know, very troubling at the time because of our background. apolo ohno: the second time timothy came out, timothy was 28 years old. and this time, it was about something else. and it wasn't in the darkness of the moon. this time, there was a little less fear, a little more light, and a lot more pride. timothy leduc: very broadly speaking, gender is one's internal sense of self as male or female, both or neither. it's different from biological sex, which is a person's physical traits. through a lot of introspection, through seeking au

pairs figure skater timothy leduc had to come out of the closet twice. gay and then the first ever openly nonbinary winter olympian. they say they hope their participation will help other skaters feel more comfortable being themselves. >> i never want anyone to feel shame for parts of themselves because they've come into figure skating. i think of skaters like me who maybe want to put on makeup and go out and skate in a costume that maybe is unusual or different. but maybe they wouldn't do those things because they feel the judges aren't going to give them as good of scores. >> his partner is also challenging traditional skating performances. she wore pants during the team's winning 2019 u.s. figure skating championship. we note it because it's rarely done by female athletes in her sport. although, what's the problem? >> yeah, why not, right? the winter olympics begins february 3rd on nbc. listen to the full interview with luduc about -- by downloading our podcast called "my favorite olympian." listen wherever you get your podcasts. >>> listen to this ni

timothy leduc as the first openly nonbinary winter olympian. >> i never want anyone to feel shame for of themselves because they've come into figure skating. i think of skaters in makeup an costume that is unusual or different but maybe they wouldn't do those things because they feel the judges aren't going to give them as good scores. >> his partner wore pants during the team's winning usa 2019 figure skating championship. something that's actually rarely done by female athletes. >> it seems you would want to flying around like that. >> the winter olympics begin february 3. you can start listening right now wherever you get your podcasts. >>> blood centers are running short on supplies. anyone who gives blood this month will be entered into a raffle for a two-night stay at a ritz-carlton hotel, or how about two tickets to the super bowl? >> experiencing shortages with 10% decline in donors. anyone who gives blood this month will be entered into a raffle. two tickets to the super bowl february 13th. you can still watch here. >> you can give blood if you've had your vaccinations or boo

ashley are cain-gribble and timothy deluke won the pairs figure skating. leducmake history as the first openly non-binary athlete at the winter games. a russian coach apparently isn't comfort basketball that and made hateful comments about him. u.s. figure skating denounce it had the remarks saying they are proud of leduc. figure skater jason brown is going to the olympic. always been known for his bubbly personality and his pony tail flowing through jumps and spins on the ice but when he makes his second olympic appearance in beijing this february one of them will be missing. ♪♪ >> hi, i'm jason brought. you'll from highland park, illinois, and i am a figure skater. >> this is where it comes alive. tribble axel. >> beautifully landed. >> there he goes. >> you know what it's so funny when i first got it, it was like the power in the hair, that whole myth, and i -- i cut it and i went straight to the rink. i tried all my jumps. i can land everything and i was at ease, but, no, i've not looked back and i really do enjoy it. >> fortunately in the sport of figure sk