“I’m just in complete shock,” Karen shared after her amazing win. “All of this just came together for me. It was a rough season. I spent the first couple months working out my boot problems and working with a new boot company trying to work out all the kinks. I’m happy with the progress and hope to keep getting better.”
She adds, “I think it’s very exciting. It was definitely one of my goals and this is what I wanted to do when I came here. I’m just so thrilled with how everything went.”
Mariah Bell, who finished 3rd, and Gracie Gold, who finished 6th, are also pictured below.
“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!
Lilimar goes for the glam factor with a chic, long pink wrap at the 2016 Teen Vogue Young Hollywood Party with American Eagle Outfitters on Friday night (September 23) in Malibu, 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.