“In the Loop” is a column by Valerie Fang dedicated to the sport of figure skating.
I always think that my introduction to figure skating in early 2022 has changed my life’s trajectory for the better.
Along the way, I have witnessed how so many athletes defy gravity to challenge both themselves and the limits of the sport. For this closing edition, I want to share a few things I have learned from following figure skating. It is both an appreciation post for the sport and a memo for myself to look back on from time to time in the future. Welcome back to “In the Loop” — it has been a ride.
Keep your axis straight. In figure skating, this is the foundation for making any jumps. Of course, you can still jump with a tilted axis, but that puts a lot of pressure on landing and lowers the jump’s grade of execution (GOE). In life outside the rink, I think each of us all have our own axis: our sense of self. I will remember to not let the opinions of others sidetrack my own purpose and moral compass. Let this axis be the basis for every leap of faith we make in this world.
Always jump forward. The axel jump is the oldest and hardest jump in figure skating. It is also the only type of jump that requires the skater to take off forward. The most difficult part of life is perhaps also the most important. The most painful challenges are also the ones we must face head-on, because they are often the most rewarding. Find the courage to leap forward and do not look back. Nothing can define or limit you but your own conception of who you are and what you can achieve. As I move on to the next stage of my life, I will remember to always look ahead and move through life with wonder and fearlessness.
“Be the challenger, not the champion.” You might think, “oh no, another Hanyu Yuzuru quote!” I do not want to sound like a broken record, but the truth is that Hanyu was the sole reason why I got into this sport, created this column and still care about what happens in competitive figure skating even after his retirement. So, I feel almost obliged to mention this message, which I hold dearest to my heart, in the closing article. We have boundless potential, and there is no limit to what we can achieve. I will remember to brace for competitions with grace but always push for my own improvement first. After all, in any sports competition, breaking through one’s own limits and exceeding what we think we’re capable of is more valuable than any medal.
Flowers will bloom. Figure skaters forever move me with their hopefulness and courage in the face of pain. One of the first things you learn when you start skating — even before you step on ice — is how to fall. Especially in the case of quad jumps which are ruling the sport today, skaters hit the ice with seven times their body weight if they fail to land. But, spring will come for those who have gone through the winter. Hold on to the dream with devotion and life will happen.
As I am graduating this month and embarking on a new chapter, my storyline at Annenberg Media is coming to an end. But, dear reader, our journey with figure skating does not have to. Because you care about what I write, I have sharpened my mind as a sports spectator. Figure skating has opened a door for me to reflect on my perspectives on life. And I’d like to think that I have become a better human being because of that. Thank you so much for your attention and support along the way. I hope that, wherever you are in life, you can be accompanied by some figure skating content and stay in the loop.