As a former competitive figure skater, I am so excited for the glitz and athleticism of the figure skating events in the upcoming Winter Olympics in Peyong Chang, South Korea. I started skating when I was three-years-old and continued until I was 15.
When I was three, my dad took me to skate around the massive Christmas tree at the Galleria Mall in Dallas. It was magical. Up until then, I had been watching longingly from the sidelines, but after that experience, I knew this was where I belonged.
As I grew up in the sport, my goals changed from wanting to learn how to do jumps and spins to wanting to someday to compete at the Olympics. As I got older I slowly realized the girls who had any shot at the Olympics were at the same level as me, but significantly younger.
Furthermore, I was growing too tall, and it was making landing jumps difficult because I was constantly having to adjust what I was doing the jump. Leaving figure skating was one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever had to make, but I wanted the space to pursue other sports that I felt I could better compete in.
I loved figure skating and everything it taught me. Without it, I would not have learned these lessons along the way:
1. Glitter isn't confidence, but it doesn't hurt.
My favorite part of competition day, other than performing, was the vanilla-scented Powerpuff Girl glitter hairspray that my mom would spray in my hair before I went on the ice. Glitter wasn’t going to change how I skated or my final score, but life’s always better with a little extra sparkle.
2. You're going to fall eventually, so get over it.
No matter how many hours you put into working on your program, it can all fall apart with one mistake. Skating is as much physical as it is mental, and what typically determines the outcome of competitions isn’t the skill of the skaters competing, but the mental resilience.
3. Fake it 'till you make it.
A smile and a good performance can’t always cover up a misstep in your program, but it can’t hurt either. Often I would go into a competition not completely solid on a spin or a jump in my program, but as long as I acted like I knew what I was doing I could at least convince myself I had competed well.
4. Have patience with yourself.
Mastering all the elements of a level in figure skating takes time, and watching your friends speed by you at levels is so frustrating. Everyone their own aptitudes and becoming frustrated with yourself is a sure-fire way to set yourself back.
5. Winning means nothing if you do it without humility.
Everyone in your competition bracket has put in hours upon hours of work to get their program competition-ready. No matter how they ultimately perform, everyone deserves a hug and a “good job.” If it’s your day and you place first in your bracket then that’s wonderful, but stay gracious. Everyone can read the results for themselves. If it’s not your day and you fall short of first, congratulate the winner on her accomplishment because she worked hard to deserve it.
