If you could change any element in your gold medal skating performance would you and what would it be?
I wish I would have skated better… My build up to Sarajevo was perfect, and I couldn’t have been in better shape heading into the Olympics. But by the time I got to the Long Program, I was starting to struggle. If I had rotated and landed the Triple Flip near the top of my program, I would have been fine. But… I didn’t.
Favorite memory while commentating the Olympics?
The memory that always comes to mind is Midori Ito’s triple axel near the end of her Long Program in Albertville. She was favored to win, but was crushed under the weight of the Japanese press. She skated subpar in the Short Program, then made mistakes in the Long. Knowing it was over for the Gold, she threw a second triple axel towards the end of the program, and it was incredibly inspiring.
If you didn’t take the Olympic track, what kind of job did you want to have?
Most likely I would have wanted a career in show business. I love entertaining people.
Best advice for anyone aspiring to become an Olympian?
Be willing to work at a level your competitors won’t.
Did the cheers from the crowd impact your skating performances?
The skating fans were my reason for skating. I always wanted to be an ice show comic. But the more I skated, the more the competitive side of the sport took over. Even in Pro competitions, I didn’t care if I won the event. I only cared about winning the audience.
What were the key turning points in your career?
Winning Junior Nationals extended my skating career. Without that win, I would have had to quit skating altogether due to a lack of finances. My parents were both school teachers.
How did becoming an Olympian change you as a person?
Becoming an Olympian showed me that I can chart my own course. The harder I worked, the better the results. I saw a way forward in my skating, and a path to a career in doing what I loved the most.
