When sophomore Janet Yang stepped onto the ice for her first ‘learn-to-skate’ class at the Ice Cube at only five years old, she did not know she would be making the national team ten years later. She only knew how challenging the task at hand seemed: sitting on the ice and trying to stand up.
“Wearing skates made me feel like I had no support,” Yang said. “I kept falling over and over again. My coach told us, ‘If you want to be a good skater, you must learn how to get up after you fall, because falling is very common in skating.’”
That lesson proved prophetic. Falling and, in turn, injuries, are not uncommon in skating.
“An injury has been my biggest challenge, and I have had to be patient and wait for my body to fully recover,” Yang said. “That waiting period is extremely discouraging, because I can only watch others skate while I am unable to do anything myself.”
Despite these setbacks, Yang remained committed. Her perseverance, even during periods away from the ice, allowed her to continue progressing in the sport.
“Skating, combined with music and dance, is a beautiful art,” she said. “I enjoy challenging myself through level tests, competitions, and performances. Each achievement motivates me to push forward and become a better skater.”
However, a lot of effort was required to reach the level that Yang did.
“[My training schedule is] usually 30 hours per week,” she said. “[It] includes synchro practice, ice dance, jumping class, spinning class, off ice class, dance class, and workout.”
While the hours of training paid off, Yang credits more than just practice for her success. Like many athletes, she relies on a strong support system — and for her, that support comes from her mother.
“My mom means the most to me because she spends so much money, time, and energy supporting my skating,” said Yang. “She understands me, always encourages me, and is always there for me. Every medal I receive is something I want to dedicate to her.”
That dedication culminated in a defining moment for Yang and her team.
“After my synchronized skating team competed at the Boston Classic, both our short program and long program scores were above 150, which is the qualifying cutoff for the national team,” Yang said. “I was very excited to hear the news, because everyone on the team worked so hard.”
