Olympic spirit lives in all of us BY JUSTIN DILLON W
ith the Olympics in Sochi nearly upon us, I can’t help but appreciate the hard work and sacrifice that so many young
skaters make as they ascend the qualifying ladder of U.S. Figure Skating. Watching hundreds of kids skate their
hardest at regionals in hopes of winning gold or advancing to the next level of competition reminds me of my first experience at the 1991 Northwest Pacific Regional Championships. I was a preliminary skater at those region-
als and I felt like I had hit the big time. I recall preparing all year for this prestigious moment. I worked tirelessly on the ice, doing multiple routines to perfect the elements in my pro- gram. I worked off the ice so I could perform at my best. I drank lots of water and got plenty of rest.
I also kept up with my homework so I
didn’t get behind while missing school for my “mini-Olympics.” As I look back on this experi- ence, I realize at 11 years old that I prepared in the exact way I would for an international event representing Team USA. These first steps up the qualifying ladder
were preparing me to be an elite athlete, and I took the role seriously. I thought in my young mind that if I arrived at my best to the most important event of my season, I could take on any challenge and that included realizing my dream of competing at the Olympics. My dream, however, was more than a
destination; it was a journey. When I finally had the opportunity in 1996 to compete at an international competition and represent Team
USA, I applied the approach I took in prepar- ing for that first regionals. I knew representing Team USA meant
being prepared to skate, perform my best and act in a way that properly respected and rep- resented the United States. When I won my first international event and saw the American flag being raised and the national anthem be- ing played, I knew all the discipline and hard work were worth it. I felt the Olympic spirit. That was the closest I ever got to being
an Olympian. Everyone’s journey in this sport takes them to different destinations. I look back and I am proud of my accomplishments and having competed in U.S. Figure Skating’s qualifying structure. I have an even greater re- spect for those athletes who earn the oppor- tunity to compete at a World Championships or the Olympics. Many of us are motivated and inspired by
the Olympic Games. Some of us participate in Basic Skills, some compete at regionals, sec- tionals and beyond. Some of us skate for life in various programs, as this is a community many call home. Some of us volunteer and give back to the sport, while some of us are Friends of Figure Skating or donors of Desti- nation Sochi. No matter how great or small our participation or contribution is to figure skating, the Olympic spirit lives in all of us. We should all take pride in our involvement in a sport that brings us so much joy. Whether the Olympics are a destination
or inspiration, their presence and our partic- ipation greatly impact our sport every four
Jazlyn Meadows
years. I witnessed this at regionals, watching a little girl skate her best in Basic Skills and wear her medal proudly. I saw the sportsmanship in the senior ladies event, in which all the com- petitors took a group photo at the conclusion of the competition, proving skating is more than just medals or advancement. This Olympic season will be just as ex-
citing as any previous Games. I wish all those competing to get there, and those who quali- fy, the best of luck in their journey. I also look forward to how that spirit
in the next four years will trickle down and impress upon a new generation the same passion, joy and excitement that the skating movement brings so many of us. We will be cheering Go Team USA! Justin Dillon is a member of the Athlete Ad- visory Committee and its former chair.
The senior ladies at the Central Pacific Regional Championships have some fun together following competition.
50 DECEMBER 2013
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