CMP Review 2025-02-06

February 6, 2025

When my youngest son was born, his brother and sister had been skating for years. I like to say that he grew up in the rink. Having breathed that atmosphere almost since birth, it seemed inevitable that he would become a figure skater too.

But he brought his own individuality to the sport. He was making his own way. I could support, I could advise, but I could not direct. He had his own dream. And all these years later, he still does.

His dream took him to Wichita, Kansas to compete in his first national championships. After his event he enjoyed watching in the stands with other young skaters and absorbing the moment. They cheered together. They roamed together. They played together.

As we were leaving, National Development Camp was beginning. Wiles left some of his fellow athletes behind in Wichita. None of us knew he would never see them again.

On Monday, skaters from around the country held a special vigil for the 28 members of the figure skating community that lost their lives on January 29. It was time to celebrate the beauty of their achievements and the tragedy of their departure. And a time to remember that every life is both fragile and precious, as fragile and precious as a dream.

@artmiddlekauff