PYEONGCHANG – When Tara Lipinski won the ladies figure skating individual event at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, at 15-years-old, she was the youngest person ever to do so.
Twenty years later, Lipinski’s record still stands, and she is now the face of figure skating commentary at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. But she has never forgotten her Houston roots.
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“Texas is the best,” Lipinski said. “I would go to the rink and be so frigid and freezing inside the rink, and then when you come out, it’s so nice and warm during training.”
When Tara was nine, she moved to Sugar Land to live and train.
“I skated and trained there for a while,” Lipinski said. “I skated at The Galleria and Sharpstown.”
In her 20s, she took a break from figure skating to figure out her next career move. As it turns out, it was figure skating commentary.
“It’s a little less pressure not having to be on the ice competing," Lipinski said. "We get to sit up in a nice, cozy, warm booth and continue to be part of the competition and part of what we love to do, which is call figure skating.”
Her partner is another former Olympic figure skater, Johnny Weir. Both of them are known for their sometimes brutal honesty, calling Nathan Chen’s Olympic debut “a disaster,” and “the worst I’ve ever seen from him.”
“Figure skating is an Olympic sport. It’s a sport. It’s hardcore. There’s blood, sweat and tears that go into it,” Weir said. “It shouldn't be treated any differently than any other sport.”
Lipinski and Weir added that they believe Nathan Chen’s best is yet to come.
Lipinski marked the 20-year anniversary on Tuesday by saying on Instagram how the experience changed her life forever.
"Twenty years ago today, my life changed forever. Just in a few short days, another athlete will get to experience this incredible moment," her Instagram post said. "I feel so privileged that I will be able to commentate as another Olympic Champion is crowned. I had the time of my life out there."