I started figure skating because of the 2002 Olympics. I was watching Sasha Cohen skate a firey routine, mesmerized by her graceful spirals and abstract spins, and I knew in that moment that I was going to skate. I wanted to be just like her. Naturally, when I told my mom this, she didn’t think much of it at the time. She thought I would forget by the time Fall lessons came around, in some ways hoping that I wouldn’t take to one of the most expensive sports. But I didn’t forget. And after my first session on ice, when my mom thought I would finish out my skating “phase” I continued going. I attribute a lot of who I am to my skating: my career, my out-going personality, my adventure, my determination, and my confidence. I believe skating transforms people.

It’s now been 15 years since I first put on a pair of ice skates, and I’m teaching in a country hosting this prestigious event. I didn’t think much of it at first, perhaps I would get tickets to one event I thought back in August when I first moved here. That way I could say I’ve been to the Olympics. But it’s become way more than just having my life come full circle these past couple weeks leading up tot he Games. I feel like these weeks have continued to influence my perspective of time and life and passion and ultimately what it means to be part of a community, and to do what you love.

My school had the privilege of helping host many of the Canadian athletes for this games. The athletics directors at my school are Canadian and have uniques ties with officials and committee members who made Songdo their home over the course of the games. Chadwick was their distribution location for team clothes and their training facilities for Luge and Skeleton run athletes, whereas Seonhak International Ice Rink was a training rink for their hockey and figure skating teams who needed a space outside of Pyeongchang to practice, relax, and get ready for the Games. In the weeks leading up to the games, I would sneak upstairs to the larger rink after coaching on weekends, to watch these athletes practice. I was able to watch team Sweden do drills on ice, and members of the team Canada figure skating team practice from the stands. On the Monday before our lunar holiday, as a thank you, my entire school was able to attend a warm-up match between the Canadian and Swedish hockey teams during an afternoon before the Games. This “friendly” match proved to be anything but friendly with the teams getting into several on ice brawls, one resulting in both members getting a 2:00 minute penalties. We weren’t able to stay for the entirety of the game, but being in the Olympic energy, surrounded my my colleagues and students was just good as going to an actual match.

But what struck me as the pinnacle of this experience was a single moment in a unique opportunity I had a couple of days ago to take kids from my figure skating class to the rink to personally meet Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir, Kaetlyn Osmond and Larkyn Austman, and watch them practice along with Gabby Daleman. We were the only people allowed in the rink to watch them on their final day of casual training in Incheon before they headed to Pyeongchang and during the ice make when we went out to meet them I could feel the nervous energy of my students in the lobby as they approached us. One of my kids wanted them to sign her ice skates, but she didn’t have the words to ask, instead shying away and pushing me forward to talk. In a split second, I felt all my years of skating come at me.

At what point in time do you grow up from the kid who is crazy nervous meeting an Olympian to the “adult” doing the introductions? It feels like just yesterday I was the child standing wordless instead . . . not knowing what to say or how to act.. But all-star skaters are just people. I’m sure that’s what my mom told me 10 years ago when I was hanging out with Ross Miner in the lobby of a hotel at a recreational competition in MA . And that is entirely true, but not to a 2nd grader. I had real conversations with Olympic athletes on Friday. Kaetlyn is my age, and we suggested to her parents to go the local Pet Cafe; later on her social media we found out they took our suggestion. Larkyn asked me what kind of skating I did growing up and in university. Tessa and Scott were super friendly waving to the kids in the stand from the rink and finally patiently waiting for my student to ask them herself for the signature without my help.

To no longer be starstruck in the presence of incredible talent, but to still recognize their abilities and to embrace their graciousness, that is the point I am at. Somehow on Thursday, I felt the most adult I’ve felt in a long time. This games didn’t make my life come full circle, but rather that moment did. And although going to the Olympics and watching pairs skating live will forever be one of my most incredible memories, having little skaters look at me in guidance in meeting an idol, will forever be one my most pinnacle memories. Good luck next week to these incredible athletes . . . thank you for opening your hearts to us, and allowing us to be part of this journey with you.