L E T T E R F R O M T H E E D I T O R
Fans select Abbott as winner of Readers’ Choice Award
Fans showed their appreciation for Jeremy Abbott’s out-
standing season by voting him the winner of SKATING magazine’s 2013–14 Readers’ Choice Skater of the Year Award. Through online voting on icenetwork during the week of
June 30–July 7, fans cast their ballots for the athlete or team they believed was most deserving of the award based on the accom- plishments of the past season. A record of more than 20,000 votes were cast during the bal-
loting period. Finishing next to Abbott were U.S. silver medalist and Olympian Jason Brown, Olympic ice dance champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White, and U.S. bronze medalist Mirai Nagasu. The Detroit-based skater has one offi cial fan club — Jeremy’s
Japanese Fan Club — and several others that have longtime records of support. Abbott communicates with his fans regularly through social media, including his offi cial fan page on Facebook. He also has Twitter and Instagram accounts, where he posts and chats with fans, and a website via Figure Skaters Online. Abbott said, “I have to be honest and say this trophy should
really go to Meryl and Charlie again after making U.S. history twice this year. How can one possibly beat that? “I will say that I am incredibly honored to be receiving this
Readers’ Choice Award winners 2014 – Jeremy Abbott 2013 – Meryl Davis/Charlie White 2012 – Ashley Wagner 2011 – Meryl Davis/Charlie White 2010 – Johnny Weir 2009 – Evan Lysacek 2008 – Johnny Weir 2007 – Miami University 2006 – Kimmie Meissner 2005 – Tanith Belbin/Ben Agosto 2004 – Sasha Cohen, Haydenettes (tie) 2003 – Michelle Kwan 2002 – Michelle Kwan 2001 – Michelle Kwan 2000 – Michael Weiss 1999 – Michelle Kwan 1998 – Michelle Kwan 1997 – Tara Lipinski 1996 – Michelle Kwan 1995 – Todd Eldredge 1994 – Michelle Kwan 1993 – Scott Davis 1992 – Paul Wylie 1991 – Tonya Harding 1990 – Jill Trenary 1989 – Kristi Yamaguchi
award. I have such incredible fans from around the world that I have been privileged enough to meet and skate for. My skating has always been about more than points and placements. I love to give to the audience. I love to take them on my journey with me, and I’m so grateful that they can feel that.” Abbott’s season featured countless highlights, including winning a bronze medal at the NHK
Trophy in Japan, capturing his fourth U.S. title in Boston while shattering the world short program record (99.86), receiving a standing ovation before performing at the Smucker’s Skating Spectacular, qualifying for his second Olympic Winter Games, securing a bronze medal as a member of Team USA in the inaugural Olympic Team Event and rallying to fi nish fi fth at the World Championships to help the U.S. gain three spots for the 2015 World Championships. “I am still in awe of all of this,” Abbott said. “However, the epic fall I took at the Olympics in the
short program has had the biggest eff ect on me. I’ve heard so many diff erent stories about how that moment aff ected people — how it inspired them and motivated them and gave them courage to do things in their lives that they thought weren’t possible. Hearing these stories and sharing these mo- ments are more valuable and will last longer than any medal. So, I just want to thank again the fans, from the hard core to the casual Olympic viewer, because you guys make the eff ort all worthwhile.” Abbott’s fall occurred in the entrance to his fi rst jump — a quad toe — in which he came crash-
ing down, hitting the ice hard, hip fi rst. Dazed by the extreme pain and lying by the boards for 13 seconds, Abbott marshalled the will to get back on his feet and complete the program. “The second I stood up, the audience was screaming,” Abbott recalled. “I was like, ‘Forget it all.
I’m fi nishing this program. I don’t care if I’m two minutes late or what happens with the rest of this, but I’m not going to give up this moment.’” Abbott, 29, will be presented with the coveted Michelle Kwan Trophy, which represents both
the sport of fi gure skating and SKATING magazine, at the 2015 U.S. Championships in Greensboro, N.C. The trophy is a one-of-a-kind crystal sculpture designed by Crystal Signatures of Pennsylvania.
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4 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014
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