most people would not expect that when you put a child in a sport at 4 years
you put a child in a sport at 4 years
you put a child in a sport at 4 years old that it is something they will do
old that it is something they will do
old that it is something they will do for the rest of their life this however
for the rest of their life this however
for the rest of their life this however is a common occurrence in the world of
is a common occurrence in the world of
is a common occurrence in the world of figure skating figure skating is freeing
figure skating figure skating is freeing
figure skating figure skating is freeing it is movement artistry hard work and
it is movement artistry hard work and
it is movement artistry hard work and perseverance it’s easy right you just
perseverance it’s easy right you just
perseverance it’s easy right you just have to stand on four millimeter blades
have to stand on four millimeter blades
have to stand on four millimeter blades throw your body into the air and land on
throw your body into the air and land on
throw your body into the air and land on one foot with more than five times your
one foot with more than five times your
one foot with more than five times your body weight right even after 18 years of
body weight right even after 18 years of
body weight right even after 18 years of experience this is never easy yet
experience this is never easy yet
experience this is never easy yet despite this physical challenge at no
despite this physical challenge at no
despite this physical challenge at no point in my adolescent life did I
point in my adolescent life did I
point in my adolescent life did I consider myself an athlete athletes play
consider myself an athlete athletes play
consider myself an athlete athletes play a game there on teams and as far as I
a game there on teams and as far as I
a game there on teams and as far as I knew there were no such thing as teams
knew there were no such thing as teams
knew there were no such thing as teams in Figure Skating this turned out to be
in Figure Skating this turned out to be
in Figure Skating this turned out to be far from the truth
far from the truth
far from the truth in 1956 the first synchronized figure
in 1956 the first synchronized figure
in 1956 the first synchronized figure skating team was formed in Ann Arbor
skating team was formed in Ann Arbor
skating team was formed in Ann Arbor Michigan synchro is the most popular
Michigan synchro is the most popular
Michigan synchro is the most popular branch of skating you have never heard
branch of skating you have never heard
branch of skating you have never heard of with the upcoming Olympics people
of with the upcoming Olympics people
of with the upcoming Olympics people will start talking about figure skating
will start talking about figure skating
will start talking about figure skating again but synchro gets little media
again but synchro gets little media
again but synchro gets little media attention and is not yet an Olympic
attention and is not yet an Olympic
attention and is not yet an Olympic sport at age 9 I joined my first team
sport at age 9 I joined my first team
sport at age 9 I joined my first team physically connected to 15 other skaters
physically connected to 15 other skaters
physically connected to 15 other skaters performing in unison in a combination of
performing in unison in a combination of
performing in unison in a combination of all divisions of skating becoming a
all divisions of skating becoming a
all divisions of skating becoming a synchronized figure skater is what
synchronized figure skater is what
synchronized figure skater is what challenged me to call myself an athlete
challenged me to call myself an athlete
challenged me to call myself an athlete the pinnacle of most sports occurs in
the pinnacle of most sports occurs in
the pinnacle of most sports occurs in one day whether it be the world
one day whether it be the world
one day whether it be the world championships
championships
championships Super Bowl or Olympics one day can
Super Bowl or Olympics one day can
Super Bowl or Olympics one day can define an athlete successes and failures
define an athlete successes and failures
define an athlete successes and failures we know that in reality success can be
we know that in reality success can be
we know that in reality success can be defined in a number of ways we all set
defined in a number of ways we all set
defined in a number of ways we all set goals and for some these goals remain
goals and for some these goals remain
goals and for some these goals remain the same throughout a lifetime when we
the same throughout a lifetime when we
the same throughout a lifetime when we set goals it can be easy to set a path
set goals it can be easy to set a path
set goals it can be easy to set a path that you must follow to achieve them yet
that you must follow to achieve them yet
that you must follow to achieve them yet throughout history it’s hard to pinpoint
throughout history it’s hard to pinpoint
throughout history it’s hard to pinpoint two individuals that arrived at the same
two individuals that arrived at the same
two individuals that arrived at the same destination in the same way maybe this
destination in the same way maybe this
destination in the same way maybe this means the only true way to
means the only true way to
means the only true way to our goals is to throw out the so-called
our goals is to throw out the so-called
our goals is to throw out the so-called path to success and get there on our own
path to success and get there on our own
path to success and get there on our own terms my sophomore year of college I was
terms my sophomore year of college I was
terms my sophomore year of college I was immensely distracted by a goal I had
immensely distracted by a goal I had
immensely distracted by a goal I had abandoned to compete at the elite level
abandoned to compete at the elite level
abandoned to compete at the elite level of synchronized skating I saw two change
of synchronized skating I saw two change
of synchronized skating I saw two change and decided to take a year off of school
and decided to take a year off of school
and decided to take a year off of school to fully immerse myself in this goal
to fully immerse myself in this goal
to fully immerse myself in this goal after the spring audition process I was
after the spring audition process I was
after the spring audition process I was named as a member of Team USA with the
named as a member of Team USA with the
named as a member of Team USA with the crystallites in Dearborn Michigan this
crystallites in Dearborn Michigan this
crystallites in Dearborn Michigan this is what I always wanted to be valued as
is what I always wanted to be valued as
is what I always wanted to be valued as a skilled skater and to be a part of a
a skilled skater and to be a part of a
a skilled skater and to be a part of a group that cared about the advancement
group that cared about the advancement
group that cared about the advancement of our sport like many teams only 16
of our sport like many teams only 16
of our sport like many teams only 16 skaters are on the ice at one time
skaters are on the ice at one time
skaters are on the ice at one time leaving four members at the sidelines at
leaving four members at the sidelines at
leaving four members at the sidelines at every given competition my goal for the
every given competition my goal for the
every given competition my goal for the season was to not sit at the sidelines
season was to not sit at the sidelines
season was to not sit at the sidelines but to be a performing member of this
but to be a performing member of this
but to be a performing member of this team and above all be valued as an asset
team and above all be valued as an asset
team and above all be valued as an asset to our overall success no doubt training
to our overall success no doubt training
to our overall success no doubt training with Team USA is hard work I was
with Team USA is hard work I was
with Team USA is hard work I was thrilled by the challenges it posed my
thrilled by the challenges it posed my
thrilled by the challenges it posed my strength endurance and flexibility
strength endurance and flexibility
strength endurance and flexibility always wanting to learn more until
always wanting to learn more until
always wanting to learn more until during summer training I found myself in
during summer training I found myself in
during summer training I found myself in the emergency room for the first time in
the emergency room for the first time in
the emergency room for the first time in my life I had pleurisy an inflammation
my life I had pleurisy an inflammation
my life I had pleurisy an inflammation of the lungs eventually diagnosed with
of the lungs eventually diagnosed with
of the lungs eventually diagnosed with asthma but hiccups like this happen all
asthma but hiccups like this happen all
asthma but hiccups like this happen all the time
the time
the time I wasn’t defeated I bundled up and I
I wasn’t defeated I bundled up and I
I wasn’t defeated I bundled up and I went to practice and I sat there for 4
went to practice and I sat there for 4
went to practice and I sat there for 4 hours for one day I was on the ice in no
hours for one day I was on the ice in no
hours for one day I was on the ice in no time and continued to excel and
time and continued to excel and
time and continued to excel and demonstrate growth until just three
demonstrate growth until just three
demonstrate growth until just three weeks later after a minor fall I had a
weeks later after a minor fall I had a
weeks later after a minor fall I had a fractured ankle this for a figure skater
fractured ankle this for a figure skater
fractured ankle this for a figure skater is what we call devastating Hiab routed
is what we call devastating Hiab routed
is what we call devastating Hiab routed my life moved hundreds of miles away and
my life moved hundreds of miles away and
my life moved hundreds of miles away and broke the very thing that facilitated my
broke the very thing that facilitated my
broke the very thing that facilitated my goal I was worried I’d lose my spot on
goal I was worried I’d lose my spot on
goal I was worried I’d lose my spot on the team but it was only summer training
the team but it was only summer training
the team but it was only summer training there were still plenty of weeks to get
there were still plenty of weeks to get
there were still plenty of weeks to get back on the ice in time for the season
back on the ice in time for the season
back on the ice in time for the season so I committed to my
so I committed to my
so I committed to my every I bundled up and I went to every
every I bundled up and I went to every
every I bundled up and I went to every practice for four hours a day for 70
practice for four hours a day for 70
practice for four hours a day for 70 days finally a year ago on this very day
days finally a year ago on this very day
days finally a year ago on this very day I would return to the ice adrenaline
I would return to the ice adrenaline
I would return to the ice adrenaline filled my veins and I wanted nothing
filled my veins and I wanted nothing
filled my veins and I wanted nothing more than to show my coaches and my
more than to show my coaches and my
more than to show my coaches and my teammates that I was ready I could do
teammates that I was ready I could do
teammates that I was ready I could do this within 10 minutes of the warmup
this within 10 minutes of the warmup
this within 10 minutes of the warmup after a collision with another skater
after a collision with another skater
after a collision with another skater I had a Coley’s fracture to my left
I had a Coley’s fracture to my left
I had a Coley’s fracture to my left wrist days later I would have a plate
wrist days later I would have a plate
wrist days later I would have a plate and seven screws holding me together in
and seven screws holding me together in
and seven screws holding me together in more ways than one
more ways than one
more ways than one my heart was broken the years of
my heart was broken the years of
my heart was broken the years of commitment seemed worthless I kept
commitment seemed worthless I kept
commitment seemed worthless I kept asking myself why what was it all for am
asking myself why what was it all for am
asking myself why what was it all for am I even good enough for this why am I
I even good enough for this why am I
I even good enough for this why am I still here I need to go home but I
still here I need to go home but I
still here I need to go home but I didn’t go home not after the first dr
didn’t go home not after the first dr
didn’t go home not after the first dr visit not after the second so I wouldn’t
visit not after the second so I wouldn’t
visit not after the second so I wouldn’t after the third my entire perception
after the third my entire perception
after the third my entire perception around this goal had to change it could
around this goal had to change it could
around this goal had to change it could no longer be about skating in the
no longer be about skating in the
no longer be about skating in the program every day but just getting to
program every day but just getting to
program every day but just getting to the rink so I remained committed to my
the rink so I remained committed to my
the rink so I remained committed to my team i bundled up i went to practice
team i bundled up i went to practice
team i bundled up i went to practice every day for four hours totalling 140
every day for four hours totalling 140
every day for four hours totalling 140 days during this time my mind was
days during this time my mind was
days during this time my mind was riddled with self-doubt and when I
riddled with self-doubt and when I
riddled with self-doubt and when I returned to the ice I questioned my
returned to the ice I questioned my
returned to the ice I questioned my ability every day my head was wrapped
ability every day my head was wrapped
ability every day my head was wrapped around this idea that I had to perform
around this idea that I had to perform
around this idea that I had to perform and for months I battled with the fact
and for months I battled with the fact
and for months I battled with the fact that I may never perform only when I let
that I may never perform only when I let
that I may never perform only when I let go of my definition of success did I
go of my definition of success did I
go of my definition of success did I find the confidence to move forward
find the confidence to move forward
find the confidence to move forward success no longer meant performing at
success no longer meant performing at
success no longer meant performing at every competition but just getting on
every competition but just getting on
every competition but just getting on the ice no matter the outcome and
the ice no matter the outcome and
the ice no matter the outcome and enjoying it this
enjoying it this
enjoying it this is what I came for this is what made me
is what I came for this is what made me
is what I came for this is what made me an athlete
an athlete
an athlete throughout the season our coaches told
throughout the season our coaches told
throughout the season our coaches told us to remind ourselves of this I am a
us to remind ourselves of this I am a
us to remind ourselves of this I am a member of my team I rely on it defer to
member of my team I rely on it defer to
member of my team I rely on it defer to it and sacrifice for it because the team
it and sacrifice for it because the team
it and sacrifice for it because the team not the individual is the ultimate
not the individual is the ultimate
not the individual is the ultimate champion my team was thriving learning
champion my team was thriving learning
champion my team was thriving learning from my struggles as much as I was
from my struggles as much as I was
from my struggles as much as I was learning from theirs for the first time
learning from theirs for the first time
learning from theirs for the first time in history the crystallites won a gold
in history the crystallites won a gold
in history the crystallites won a gold medal at the dr. Porter Classic and I
medal at the dr. Porter Classic and I
medal at the dr. Porter Classic and I was honored by standing on the podium
was honored by standing on the podium
was honored by standing on the podium later we travelled to Berlin Germany and
later we travelled to Berlin Germany and
later we travelled to Berlin Germany and we received a bronze medal at the Berlin
we received a bronze medal at the Berlin
we received a bronze medal at the Berlin Cup we followed this by traveling to
Cup we followed this by traveling to
Cup we followed this by traveling to Iran France where we competed against
Iran France where we competed against
Iran France where we competed against some of the best teams in the world at
some of the best teams in the world at
some of the best teams in the world at the French Cup and we continued our
the French Cup and we continued our
the French Cup and we continued our season at the u.s. national
season at the u.s. national
season at the u.s. national championships
championships
championships we received a silver medal garnering a
we received a silver medal garnering a
we received a silver medal garnering a spot as Team USA – at the is huge world
spot as Team USA – at the is huge world
spot as Team USA – at the is huge world championships in Colorado Springs this
championships in Colorado Springs this
championships in Colorado Springs this was among one of the most driven teams
was among one of the most driven teams
was among one of the most driven teams in the world
in the world
in the world placing ninth of 24 teams from 19
placing ninth of 24 teams from 19
placing ninth of 24 teams from 19 countries there was a lot to be said by
countries there was a lot to be said by
countries there was a lot to be said by my actions last year I had experienced
my actions last year I had experienced
my actions last year I had experienced the highest highs and lowest lows of an
the highest highs and lowest lows of an
the highest highs and lowest lows of an entire career I was three times the
entire career I was three times the
entire career I was three times the skater I once was and had achieved goals
skater I once was and had achieved goals
skater I once was and had achieved goals that I didn’t know I had the world
that I didn’t know I had the world
that I didn’t know I had the world championships was the Olympics of our
championships was the Olympics of our
championships was the Olympics of our sport and I never thought I would be
sport and I never thought I would be
sport and I never thought I would be there much less after a hundred and
there much less after a hundred and
there much less after a hundred and forty days off the ice for each failure
forty days off the ice for each failure
forty days off the ice for each failure you succeed at something new achieving a
you succeed at something new achieving a
you succeed at something new achieving a goal you may not know you had goals can
goal you may not know you had goals can
goal you may not know you had goals can change in the process of achieving them
change in the process of achieving them
change in the process of achieving them and sometimes conquering defeat is the
and sometimes conquering defeat is the
and sometimes conquering defeat is the key to reaching your destination thank
key to reaching your destination thank
key to reaching your destination thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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