The community lost family. Friends. Coaches. Mentees. But they didn’t lose their community.
That was one of the many powerful sentiments shared by
@dlane at Spirit on Ice, an evening honoring the 28 members of the U.S. Figure Skating
community we lost aboard Flight 5342 🤍
Last week, Flame Bearers had the honor of joining this group at
@chathambarsinn and the. moderating the evening at the
@chathamorpheum Theater.
➡️ As someone who works in athlete storytelling, I kept thinking about how important it is to hold space with extreme care. This is always our priority, but especially so in moments of grief: to listen closely, let people share their stories in their own words and remember that behind every athlete is an entire ecosystem of parents, coaches, teammates, trainers, and loved ones who sacrifice so much for the sport they love.
People spoke candidly about grief, and throughout the night there were both tears and genuine belly laughs — a reflection of the honesty, humor, and support helping this community navigate the unimaginable.
⛸️ Legendary Olympic medalist
@nancyakerrigan spoke about the strength of the skating community alongside fellow Olympic medalist
@paulwylie92 , rising star
@patrickblackwell_ , coach
@high_marks , Louann Hogberg, MBA, Jeff Handler, Doug Lane and others. They reminded everyone in the room that figure skating is about far more than competition; it’s community, family, and showing up for one another when words fall short.
Thank you to
@kimroderiques and everyone behind Spirit on Ice for trusting me with this role and creating such a meaningful evening benefiting The Legacy Fund. And thank you to the skating community for showing what strength, vulnerability, and love for one another truly look like. ❤️
📸 credit Kim Roderiques 🙌
#USSkating #LegacyFund
