When I introduce myself to someone new, and tell them about skating, the number one question I get asked is “so are you going to the Olympics?” The question is understandable, the Olympics are the most watched sports event in the world. And at the Winter Games, figure skating is the most popular event. Viewers love to watch the men’s powerful jumps (if you haven’t, definitely watch Nathan Chen’s winning free program!), the women’s graceful footwork across the ice, the terrifying lifts pairs teams perform, and the beautiful chemistry ice dancers have with each other.
“So are you going to the Olympics?” The ideal answer is yes. The reality is I don’t know.
I’m a synchronized skater. Oftentimes referred to as just “synchro”, synchronized skating is defined as an ice skating sport where between 12 to 16 skaters perform together as a team. They move as a flowing unit at high speed over the ice, while performing elements and footwork. (via Wikipedia)
Synchro has been considered for the Olympics for years, but each time is turned down. 1994 was the first time the International Skating Union (ISU) recognized synchronized skating and was the first step towards being included in the Olympics. In 2002, synchro was exhibited at the Winter Games held in Salt Lake City, Utah, but still not added. At the 2014 Sochi Games, the International Skating Community (IOC) decided to add a “team event” instead of synchro. Each year it’s a different excuse. “We don’t have enough space” or “There aren’t enough competing nations.” The IOC has a multitude of reasons why synchro cannot be added, yet they continue to include other new sports, such as skateboarding and breakdancing, that don’t seem to follow these rules they insist synchro must.
The IOC actually did accept synchro for the 2006 Winter Games held in Turin, Italy. It was a pivotal moment in skating history. Until last minute, when they decided there was not enough space in the Olympic Village (where the athletes stay) and dropped synchro for spacial reasons. It was the closest we had gotten to being included and was extremely heartbreaking.
For synchronized skaters around the world, it is hard to continue putting in hours upon hours of practice, just like other figure skaters, but without the knowledge that the Olympics is hopefully our final destination.
It’s disheartening as a skater to be continuously turned away. I skate for Teams Elite, at their Junior and Senior level teams. What makes it even more painful for me? Senior is the Olympic level for all disciplines of skating. To be so close yet so far away is emotionally draining.
Skating is my one true love, and something I could never live without, but at times I begin to question if everything I do is worth it if I don’t get to go to the Olympics. I practice an average of 25 hours a week and miss out on countless opportunities that my peers experience. Football games, hanging out with friends, concerts, etc. For instance, I can’t attend my last homecoming dance because I am at a Team USA event. I don’t write about this for pity, just to show that it can become difficult to find the motivation to continue pushing forward when my number one goal is unattainable at this given time. Each year that passes by where I am unsure if I will ever compete at the Olympics, my inner voice questions if it’s time to accept that I never will and move on to other things, like college and beyond that, a career.
Each Olympic year #WhyNotSynchro trends on social media. It is under every NBC, Team USA, and ISU social media post that asks about sports you want to see in the Olympics or if your goal is to ever attend them. There are organizations such as Get It Called and One Team Movement that are constantly pushing for the recognition that the sport deserves, writing articles, creating movies, and contacting major channels to bring light to the sport that so many athletes devote their lives to.
I am so unbelievably grateful for everything that skating has given me. The lessons I’ve learned, places I’ve been, and people I’ve met would never have happened without skating. I’d like to imagine that all I’ve put into this sport is not for nothing, and that one day I can achieve what every little kid that steps onto the ice dreams of.
The goal is Milan 2026… hopefully.
Hi Abby, I didn’t know that you were a skater, and to be completely honest I would have asked the same question “ are you going to the Olympics?” or “did you watch the Olympics?” and that would be my response, because I don’t know anything about skating or how they compete but after I read your blog today I think I understand the sport better, and I like how you defined everything because if someone came up to me and said that they are a synchro skater I would have no idea and I would be clueless, but because of your blog I have some background on the sport now. And I feel your pain when I had taekwondo, I would miss all the fun things and events that my friends got to go to, and it was hard to sacrifice something that close to me, but I had a goal and I kept thinking about it so this is my advice to you, don’t think about hanging out with friends too much now because if you set a goal then you would have to make a lot of sacrifices and friends and having fun would be one of those sacrifices but it’s all worth it at the end. And I hope you get to your goal. Good luck.
Wow. That was amazing, Abbi! Your post was filled with informative explanations about the complexities of synchro and the IOC’s aggravating decisions, but you also weaved in your own passionate rhetorical arguments for synchro’s inclusion. You are truly an impressive person.
It was emotionally wrenching when you discussed what you have given up throughout your life in service of your skating dreams. “Football games, hanging out with friends, concerts,” — things that I personally take for granted — are not realities for you because you have devoted yourself to skating. Listing out all of the things that you gave up was an effective rhetorical choice — I was thinking to myself the whole time, How can they not let you compete?! I was outraged for you.
You also employed a ton of logical arguments for synchro’s inclusion at the IOC. I remember reading about how breakdancing and skateboarding were added as Olympic sports during the last Olympics. You brought up a great point — if these sports are considered “Olympic level,” why can’t synchro be?
You presented a credible, emotional, and logical argument in support of synchro’s inclusion at the Olympics, and I am in awe of your accomplishments. I really hope that you can skate in Milan — you deserve it!
Hi Abbi–what an informative post! I learned so much about you as an athlete as well as your sport. I hope to watch you in 2026!