For most of my life, figure skating has come with an unspoken awareness of how my body is viewed. It is found in both training and competitive environments, often shaped by comparison and perceptions of what is the “right” body shape.
Over time, I began to recognize how easily that awareness can turn into pressure, and how that pressure can affect the way athletes relate to their bodies, their health, and themselves. That realization is a big part of why I care so deeply about mental health, eating disorder prevention, and body neutrality within figure skating, but also all sport.
Redefining strength.
When I was younger, I was given many opinions about what a “skater’s body” should look like. I do not think that experience is unique to me. It is something many athletes in aesthetic sports encounter.
I think there is a stigma in the sport that strength on the ice can be seen through the definition of our muscles, through the way our bodies look. Redefining what strength means to me has been pivotal in changing my relationship with the sport.
For me, strength is not about appearance. It is about what my body allows me to do. It is the ability to train through long days, to come back from injury. It is the ability to stay present in a program even when something goes wrong and to trust my body in high pressure moments.
All of these aspects of strength are invisible to the public eye but they are the foundation of everything I do on the ice. Changing my definition of strength to something more internal than external allows me to focus on myself rather than on what other people perceive.
Removing the “aesthetic sport” stigma.
Figure skating is often described as an aesthetic sport, but at its core, what we do is athletic.
The strength, endurance, precision, and technical skill required to succeed at a high level in the sport are undeniable. When the sport is seen through a lens that is primarily aesthetic, it can unintentionally shift peoples’ importance toward appearance in a way that does not reflect the reality of the work or support athletes in a healthy way.
Artistry absolutely matters. Expression, connection to your music and to your partner are part of what makes skating meaningful. Artistry is not accomplished by fitting a certain look. It is accomplished through how you move, how you are moved by your music, and how you can move an audience watching.
I believe the sport needs to move toward recognizing skating as an athletic sport that includes artistry, rather than one defined by looks. That shift creates a space for many different body types, better reflects what it actually takes to perform at a high level, thereby supporting healthier mindsets in the athletes.
Embracing body neutrality.
The concept of body neutrality is something very close to my heart. When I started focusing on finding my neutral perspective on body image, it took away some of the pressure to feel like I have to love how my body looks all the time, which is not realistic in a high-performance environment.
Being confident and positive about our appearances is often a big challenge and an added pressure in itself. Body neutrality allows me to stop constantly evaluating the way I look. It allowed me to acknowledge if I was feeling unhappy with how I looked, but put less emphasis and meaning on the feeling.
That shift has helped me feel more grounded, not only as an athlete but also as a person. Making that shift didn’t happen overnight, but with constant effort to find a neutral mindset that doesn’t have to be negatively or positively associated with my body image, the more empowered I felt.
Continuing the conversation.
I know that change in figure skating, or in any sport for that matter, won’t happen all at once. But before change can even start to manifest, we must start by having honest conversations about the issues at hand.
That means, as a community, we work towards being open about mental health, recognizing that athletes are people first, and understanding that the way we talk about bodies, food, and performance has a real impact.
Although my experience is uniquely my own, I think sharing pieces of my experience will allow athletes to relate and connect to me, especially if their experiences are similar.
Figure skating has given me so much, and I want to be part of shaping a culture where athletes can become the best versions of themself both on the playing field and in their well being outside of sport.
Resources
If you are an athlete or individual struggling with eating disorder thoughts or behaviors, support is available and you do not have to navigate it alone. The following organizations can help connect you with licensed professionals and treatment support in the U.S.
National Alliance for Eating Disorders (The Alliance)
https://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com
Free referral services to licensed eating disorder professionals and treatment programs.
ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders)
https://anad.org/get-help
Free helpline and national directory of licensed eating disorder clinicians.
Treatment directory: https://anad.org/get-help/treatment-directory/
Psychology Today Therapist Directory
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists
Searchable directory of licensed therapists with eating disorder specialties.
