Not sure where to start. I’m tearing up already. I haven’t watched Olympics ice skating so intensely in over 25 years - not since the days of Oksana, Nancy, Michelle & Tara… but I watched it all this year. Even ice dancing which I used to avoid because I found it boring that they didn’t do jumps. But it is SO GOOD. And understanding the backstories of Piper & Paul, Madison & Evan and Laurence & Guillaume (thank you Glitter and Gold!) adds a whole new dimension to the experience.

A lot has changed - music with lyrics, backflips are allowed, the insane scoring system. It’s fun to follow these evolutions, and once you do start understanding the details, you get as heated as the commentators and start yelling at the TV as those little checked boxes turn yellow or red.

But above all, it’s the almost visceral emotional experience that come from watching these athletes – these athletes that achieve incredible physical feats - but also understanding that these athletes are human and dealing with much more than physical prowess. It’s hugely mental. And emotional. Stress and pressure.

But in all forms, whether they skate flawlessly or they lose their flow and make mistake after mistake, there is still so much beauty.

Because it is human.

Thank you to all the skaters for reminding us of the beauty of humanity. <3