“My body’s still trembling right now,” she told press afterwards. “I just kept pushing and telling myself that I’m gaining more experience, I’m learning about everything in the process and I’m just going to keep getting better.”
The ladie’s long program event will be on Saturday, January 21st.
Ashley Wagner just gave an example of true sportsmanship.
Just after being crowned the 2016 Skate America champ, with Mariah Bell in 2nd and Japan’s Mai Mihara in 3rd, Ashley spoke about Gracie Gold, who placed in 5th overall.
“We just need to adjust my physical shape and mental shape to see if the program can be salvaged for the rest of the year,” Gracie shared with press after the program. “It’s just something I’ve struggled with this whole year and in previous seasons. It’s just difficult when you’re trying to do the difficult triple jumps. It’s something that I am addressing but it’s obviously not where it should be for this caliber of competition.”
“I would have to say every athlete has that one Mount Everest that they have to climb,” Ashley added afterwards. “For me, it was deciding to leave my house and take my skating over for myself. That was my biggest challenge and that’s what turned me into the athlete I am today. For her [Gracie], I think that losing that world title was devastating for her, understandably, because she had it and then the next day, she didn’t. The hardest part about all of this is you see someone struggling and hurting and no one can help her right now except for herself. It’s going to be her having enough and getting herself out of it. I think that we have a very supportive federation and everyone is doing their best to give her the tools that she needs to get through this. But it’s going to come down to her wanting to use them and getting ready to let go.”
Ashley added, “You know, at the end of the day, a person’s a person and you see them in pain, you want to do whatever you can to help out. We’re not very close but I think she’s a sweet girl and I think that she just kind of needs to find a way to push through this. She’s an awesome athlete and I respect her so much for what she is capable of. This is not the end of Gracie, I know that for a fact.”
Ashley Wagner and Gracie Gold serve up sass and class on the ice during the ladies short program at 2016 Progressive Skate America on Friday (October 21) in Chicago, Ill.
The two Olympian figure skaters rank #1 and #3 after the night, ahead of the free dance, which will happen later today.
“I felt so calm and confident going out onto that ice and I didn’t even go over to (coach Rafael Arutunian),” Ashley shared with TeamUSA. “Usually he jokes that I come over and I pray with him, and I didn’t have to go pray with him today. I knew what I was going to do.”
Check out the sweet Instagram she shared with boyfriend, speed skating star Eddy Alvarez below!
Allison Holker goes for an all-white look as she arrives for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance’s 3rd Annual Super Saturday Los Angeles held at Barker Hangar on Saturday afternoon (June 11) in Santa Monica, Calif.
Ashley Wagner looks likes she’s having major fun on the ice during her performance at the 2016 Team Challenge Cup held at Spokane Arena on Friday (April 22) and Saturday (April 23) in Spokane, Wash.
The 24-year-old World Silver Medalist skater joined Team North America for the first ever challenge, leading them to the first place spot over Team Asia and Team Europe.
Alex and Maia Shibutani step out together for the 2016 Skating with the Stars Gala held at 583 Park Avenue in New York City over the weekend.
The world Ice Dancing silver medalists were joined by fellow silver medalist Ashley Wagner at the annual event, which was presented by Figure Skating in Harlem and honored Cicely Tyson, and their teammates Meryl Davis and Charlie White.
That same night, Maia and Alex stepped out for the 2016 Shorty Awards held at the New York Times Center.
FYI: Maia wore a Halston dress, Citizen watch, and Swarovski jewelry.
10+ pics inside of Ashley Wagner, Maia and Alex Shibutani…
Ashley Wagner just ended the 10-year medal drought for the US Figure Skating Ladies Team!
The 24-year-old skater performed one of the most stunning and clean performances at the 2016 World Figure Skating Championships held at TD Garden on Saturday night (April 2) in Boston, Mass.
“It hasn’t hit me yet,” Ashley shared afterwards. “Here I am, the silver medalist in the entire world, it’s insane! It’s been a 10-year drought � to be able to break through that, to br on the podium; I’m elated, I’m excited and I feel like I’ve worked my butt off this season to be here.”
She added, “This is absolutely incredible because that was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I don’t think anyone can prepare you for skating last at the world championships after your rival has skated a great performance, knowing that the entire ladies’ field has skated field has skated pretty phenomenally. To go out there feeling the way that I did, being as terrified as I was, and finding a way to get on the ice and have access to the skater that I’ve been in training this week, that is unbelievable.”
