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ORLANDO, Fla. —

In Orlando for Stars on Ice alongside more than a dozen other Olympians, Adam Rippon says touring the country and meeting people who support him after the games in Peonychang is a humbling and uplifting victory lap.

"This is absolutely dessert," he said. "It feels great. It still feels weird for people to say like, thank you for everything you're doing because I just think I have a big mouth."

Rippon is often called outspoken. He says he never planned to have a platform, but that he's proud to stand for what he believes in and carries his passion on and off the ice. "I'm so lucky I qualified for my first Olympics when I was 28. I didn't feel that way when I was 24 or 20," Rippon said. "I learned that being the best version of myself was being my authentic self."

Warming up for his performance with a piece of the Orlando ribbon project on his chest -- a ribbon that honors the lives lost in the Pulse attack, Rippon says the skating tour's stop in Orlando holds special significance for him.

"I remember the day of that shooting very vividly even just being home in California," Rippon said. "Everything that's gone on in my journey, it feels almost full circle to be here in Orlando. I'm just so happy to be here."

And he's happy too for whatever's next in his journey.

"It almost feels like that chapter is closing and a new one is opening, which is incredible," he said.