Ashley Wagner is one of the top women's figure skaters in the world. Earlier this year, she helped the U.S. win a bronze medal in the team event at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. In 2012 and 2013, she won gold medals in ladies' singles at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
This Sunday, she is participating in the Stars on Ice show at KeyArena. Wagner answered questions about her skating career, the Stars on Ice tour and more in a live chat on May 16.
Ashley Wagner: Hey everybody its Ashley Wagner, I'm here and ready to answer your questions!
Hi Ashley, what was it like winning a bronze medal in the team event in Sochi?Wining the bronze medal in Sochi was one of the most fulfilling moments of my life. Standing on the podium representing my country and staring at the crowd with the medal around my neck was one of those moments that made me feel everything was worth it.
Hi, Ashley! First off, happy birthday! Second, what has been the most fun part of the SOI tour?Thank you very much
. I think the thing that I love most about being on the tour is you're surrounded by a huge skating family and its an incredible group of people that you can have fun with you're surrounded everyday with people and inside jokes and its nice to be around so many people who love to skate.
The Stars on Ice tour can be a grind, how do you stay focused for each show?For me I love show skating it's completely different from competing I'm a show pony at heart. It's kind of exhilarating every show I get to go in front of an audience and skate because that's what I'm crazy about. It's not too hard to stay focused because I see it as I'm very lucky to be doing what I'm doing.
Do you have any inkling which pieces of music you might want to skate to next season?I do not really know what I want to skate to next season. Right now it's tough to even wrap my head around training because this season has been so insane. I'm gonna have to take a nice long vacation before I even start to think about what I'm skating to next season.
Who is your best friend on tour?I would have to say that I'm really good friends with Jeremy Abbott, me and him have traveled together with competitions the most so I'd have to say him. But honestly everybody I've been on tour with I'm very close to because it's such a great group of people.
When will you decide to skate in the 2018 Winter Games or have you already decided?As soon as I stepped foot in Sochi I was signed on for four more years. I think the Olympic experience is something that's once in a lifetime and I got hooked as soon as I stepped in Sochi so I think I need to take it one year at a time, but honestly right now my end goal is to be in Korea.
You were very outspoken on the topic of gay rights leading up to the 2014 Olympic in Sochi. What was your impression of how this issue was handled during your time in Russia?I would have to say once in Sochi I feel that the organization treated everybody very respectfully and they really did an incredible job taking care of the athletes. At the same time, the legislation is one that I do not support in any way shape or form but when I was in Sochi I was so focused on competing that I really didn't have an opportunity to go beyond what I said.
What's the hardest thing about being a skater?I think the most difficult thing about being a skater is the fact that it kills your social life and I think it's really tough to be a normal 23-year-old. Even though this life I'm living is incredible, sometimes I wish I had some normality. I don't get the typical college experience. It's tough to do some of those things during the seasons because I'm so tired from all of my training.
Were you satisfied with how your coaching situation played out this past season?Yeah I think that everything happens for a reason and I was very shocked when Mr. Nicks decided he was gonna retire but at the same time I understood and had to respect his wishes. Raf has been a blessing in disguise for me.
What was your favorite program by another skater this past season?I really loved Caroline Kostner's program this season.
What's your favorite part of the current Stars on Ice show and what other performance do you enjoy seeing?I love the boys number in the show I think that it's a brilliant number and I think my favorite thing about this tour is being able to perform the group numbers with everybody.
Happy Birthday Ashley! What's your wish this year?Thank you! My wish is that I can find a way to create two programs that I'm able to perform as if I was in the show not just compete.
What do you plan to do after you skate?For me the great thing about skating is it opens a lot of doors for me and many opportunities come my way. I would love to get into broadcasting or something like that.
Who's your favorite all-time figure skater and WHY?I would have to say my favorite all time figure skater would be
Michelle Kwan because she has done so much for this sport and she's an incredible ambassador. Beyond that, she was the epitome of an entertainer.