LETTER FROM THE COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER


Riding the emotional roller coaster with Team USA


The emotion of the moment is exhausting. I certainly don’t know what it’s like to be


a world-level athlete who puts in months and years of training for what comes down to maybe 30 minutes of competition for one season. I do, however, know what it’s like to be by


such an athlete’s side at those moments of ela- tion or defl ation. It’s my job. As a member of the U.S. Figure Skating com-


munications team, I spend a signifi cant amount of time with our athletes at competitions, camps and appearances throughout the year. It’s impos- sible to avoid becoming invested in how our ath- letes perform, not just as a proud American, but also because I’ve had the opportunity to build strong relationships with many Team USA mem- bers.


I was a clammy, nervous wreck watching


Meryl Davis and Charlie White perform their free dance in Sochi. Whether it’s at Skate America, the U.S. Championships, Worlds or elsewhere, I get butterfl ies in my stomach and sometimes can’t watch when I know a diffi cult element is coming. In many cases, I’m the fi rst person our ath-


letes see when they leave the kiss and cry. What- ever their feelings may be — from euphoria to disappointment — they have a few minutes to make sense of it all and head into an interview zone. My job is to help them form their messages before the digital recorders and microphones are shoved in their faces. The 2015 World Championships were a


good example of the range of emotions at play for the athletes, coaches, team leaders and staff (including me). In fi rst place after the short dance, Madison


Chock and Evan Bates skated after Canadians Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje, whom they had fi nished behind at the Grand Prix Final and Four Continents Championships. Chock and Bates maintained their fi rst-place standing after both teams performed the free skate. Perhaps a little speechless, shocked, but defi nitely proud, Chock and Bates had a nervous 20 minutes to go. Had they done it? Would they be edged by


the reigning Italian champions or the up-and- coming French team? Team USA’s contingent in China was a bundle of nerves as were many fans. My phone, in the wee hours of the U.S. morning, was blowing up with texts and emails as every- one watched and waited. Chock and Bates would fi nish second to


France’s Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Ciz- eron. Their World silver medal provided a huge and happy moment and showed that even in the absence of USA’s pièce de résistance, Davis and White, American ice dancers are here to stay. More emotions stirred during other events, especially in the ladies competition. Much of the talk going into Worlds was that this could be the year Team USA would win its


4 MAY 2015


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fi rst ladies medal since 2006. Our women, Ash- ley Wagner, Gracie Gold and Polina Edmunds, have been strong internationally and, of course, threw down some exceptional performances at the 2015 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Champi- onships. Unfortunately, as the ladies short program


progressed in Shanghai, it became clear that a medal might not be in the cards after all. Ed- munds skated a strong short program and land- ed in seventh after the segment. Gold and Wag- ner each encountered technical issues in their programs and were eighth and 11th, respective- ly, at the end of the day. The disappointment and frustration was


evident as each made her way backstage. But as is required throughout our sport, the grace with which they handled the situation was impressive even with the knowledge that their medal hopes seemed to be dashed. The free skate would bring a new challenge


and require new focus. As Wagner put it: “This is another bump in the road. Saturday I have noth- ing left to do but prove that I belong at these World Championships. I have nothing to lose.” And they did just that. Gold and Wagner


went on to fi nish fourth and fi fth, respectively, after turning out the second- and third-best free skates of the day. Perhaps the accomplishments in the free


skate were a little bittersweet, but to rebound, compete and deliver in the face of adversity is just as inspiring now as it was when I arrived on the scene nearly fi ve years ago. The emotions are exhausting. Still, I feel privi-


leged to be able to watch these athletes perform on the biggest of stages, stand by their sides and share some small part of their journey. After all, it’s my job.


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Renee Felton is the communications manager at U.S. Figure Skating.


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