Alexander Johnson: The Best Short Program Ever!!!

This program is everything! LOVE IT!

Mark Mitchell's "Soon"

Beautiful, classic skating.

Pyeongchang Posts: Reflections on the Team Competition

February 11, 2018:

What a magnificent night of the Olympic figure skating team competition!! First, Adam Rippon was simply sparkling ( and sparkly!), stellar, sublime, and everything he hoped his Olympic debut would be. Next, Mirai Nagasu had one of the greatest Olympic redemption skates that I’ve ever seen! Four years ago the selection committee passed over her for the 2014 Olympic team. Mirai used that heartbreak to reinvent herself as a stronger competitor with the most difficult jump—a triple Axel— in her arsenal. Tonight Mirai realized her dream of skating on Olympic ice again and became the first U.S. woman in Olympic history to land the triple Axel!! So uplifting to see what hard work and determination can do! Lastly, Maia and Alex Shibutani twizzled their way to their most inspired and heartfelt performance of the season. (Plus, bonus points for skating to Coldplay!). At the end of the night, team USA earned its second consecutive Olympic team event bronze medal!

Very proud of our team for skating so many personal bests and handling the Olympic pressure with such grace! ...So many great skating moments already and the individual events haven’t even started yet! We’re in for an awesome Olympics! 🥉⛸❤️🙌

Revisiting U.S. Nationals: Final Thoughts

January 7, 2018:

One final thought on the U.S. Figure Skating Championships this weekend: I would like to thank all the skaters for giving me--and so many others--so much joy and entertainment on a bitterly cold weekend in the northeast when so many of us hunkered down and didn't leave the house at all (not that I would have left the house anyway--5 straight hours of coverage yesterday was a-mazing). It's rare that you have one thing that you're so passionate about for your whole life, and I'm grateful that I found it 24 years ago! The cool that is that I've grown up watching skating and no matter what's been going on in my life, it's has always been there. Through all the sport's milestones, I've been there watching, and for all my life's milestones, skating has been there for me. In a world with so much uncertainty, it's nice to have one constant. All the joy it brings me shines light into any darkness that I might be experiencing. Skating can be a balm over any wound. It inspires me, it rejuvenates my spirit, and it makes me want to chase my dreams and do all things with passion, creativity, good sportsmanship, grace, and humility. So thank you, figure skating, I'm your biggest fan!

Revisiting U.S. Nationals: Men's Final Recap: Expect the Unexpected

January 6, 2018:

I just calculated that this is my 23rd consecutive year watching the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, and every year I love it even more! As usual, the men’s event was my favorite. Tonight we saw 18-year-old Nathan Chen extend his undefeated season with an impressive arsenal of quads to secure a 40.72 point victory. Chen has now strengthened his case as a gold-medal threat at the Olympics next month in South Korea. But that result was expected. What happened after that was more interesting. We saw 17-year-old Vincent Zhou attempt 5-quads in a heartfelt effort to prove that he’s not the future of the sport, he’s the here and now. We saw a 26-year veteran come out of nowhere to give the performance of his life when it mattered most. We saw a 28-year-old veteran, who we thought was a sure-lock for the Olympic team prove that nothing is ever sure. We saw another medal favorite crumble under the pressure in a shocking result. Now the Olympic committee has to decide: do they send a veteran who on the night delivered the goods, or do they choose the veteran who on the night did not deliver, but delivered every other time on the world stage? Will they give the nod to youth to cultivate the future, or will they give the nod to the veteran on the strength of his past? We will find out Sunday morning when the official team is announced.

Tonight’s event showed us that on the way to fulfilling a dream, you have to fight tooth and nail, never give up—even when others count you out, to be confident, but not over confident, and to know how to handle disappointment with your head held high. Sometimes you don’t get what you want, but you can walk away knowing that you tried. This is figure skating. This is sport. This is life. 💪⛸🏅🌟

Revisiting U.S. Nationals: The Redemption of Mirai Nagasu

January 5, 2018

I’ve been following figure skating for 24 years and some of the best moments always come at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships/ Olympic trials. I was there in Boston 4 years ago when Mirai Nagasu was passed over for the Olympic team, even though she finished third and ahead of Ashley Wagner, who was chosen instead. Mirai skated her exhibition with tears streaming down her face. When many others would have retired, Mirai overcame her bitter disappointment and worked tirelessly to get a second chance.

Four years later—and 10 years after her National title win at the age of 14—Mirai came to this week’s National Championships more prepared than ever before. Tonight she skated courageously and with heart. She threw down the gauntlet and earned a standing ovation en route to a silver medal and what should surely earn her a trip to the Olympics in South Korea next month.

It’s SO inspiring to see someone who has hit rock bottom persevere and overcome everything to experience a personal triumph. This is what sports, and life, is all about. Tonight Mirai’s silver is as good as gold. Congratulations, Mirai Nagasu! 🌟💫🏅⛸

Nathan Chen's "Nemesis" by Benjamin Clementine

In an Olympic season that has been full of recycled programs, bizarre Grand Prix events, and uneven performances, Nathan Chen's short program to "Nemesis," by Benjamin Clementine is far and away one of the most refreshing, standout programs of the season. It's contemporary, nuanced, creative, and exciting. I love this!