When the going got tough, I really had to draw on many of the same competitive instincts I did when I was skating. I really had to put my head down and stay positive. I had to fight.

I think skating helped me find myself.

Skating was the vessel into which I could pour my heart and soul

This is another kind of competition, but I'm being coached by an excellent team, and I've got a real strong competitive spirit.

Giving life to music through skating was something I wanted to be known for

My sport taught me what I could do with my talents, whether in the rink or in the rest of my life

I think exercise tests us in so many ways, our skills, our hearts, our ability to bounce back after setbacks. This is the inner beauty of sports and competition, and it can serve us all well as adult athletes.