Mike Pence has lashed out at a gay figure skater who criticised his anti-LGBT record. Adam Rippon, 28, was named as one of three male figure skaters who will skate for the US in Pyeongchang, South Korea in February.

The gay Olympian has made waves this week after saying he would refuse to meet with Vice President Mike Pence, who is set to lead the US delegation in the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Rippon said: “You mean Mike Pence, the same Mike Pence that funded gay conversion therapy? I’m not buying it. I don’t think he has a real concept of reality. To stand by some of the things that Donald Trump has said and for Mike Pence to say he’s a devout Christian man is completely contradictory."

The Vice President has since made the extraordinary decision to hit back at the Olympian. Via his spokesperson, Pence ripped into the figure skater, suggesting he had misled the public. Pence’s press secretary, Alyssa Farah, said: “The vice president is proud to lead the U.S. delegation to the Olympics and support America’s incredible athletes. [Rippon]’s accusation is totally false and has no basis in fact. Despite these misinformed claims, the vice president will be enthusiastically supporting all the U.S. athletes competing next month in Pyeongchang.”

However, Pence’s support for anti-LGBT laws and gay cure therapy is a matter of public record.