I traded covering hockey and figure skating two weekends ago for covering short-track speed skating. It was unlike anything I'd ever seen.
Here's my report on how Boston is trying to become a short-track competition hotbed for the Boston Globe: www.bostonglobe.com/2026/03/31/s...
- Time violations are the new Oprah's Favorite Thing. "You get a time violation! And you get a time violation!" This has been going on all year. What gives?
- Lorine Schild was one of my favorites of the day, which I wasn't expecting.
Some Worlds women's short program thoughts:
- That animated flag that waves on the skaters' entrance during the programs needs to go, preferably before pairs. How distracting.
- I thought Isabeau Levito really delivered today. She looked uber focused.
- I will miss Kaori Sakamoto's speed so much.
I am just a woman, who has watched women's college hockey for 17 years, who has just 800 words to describe a league tournament, and who writes all of her articles at 4am and 9pm because she has a completely separate full-time job. Give me some grace.
(I did apologize because I am a people pleaser.)
Someone just emailed me to tell me that I don't know women's college hockey because I didn't mention a particular player on the fourth-ranked team in the league tournament.
The women's Hockey East tournament begins tonight! I look at the favorites, Northeastern and UConn, as well as BC and upstart Holy Cross, in today's Boston Globe:
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/24/s...
If you'd rather watch #Olympics #figureskating ⛸ WITHOUT commentary... there is an option on Peacock to choose "Venue Feed" for many events (starting today). If you don't see it initially, make sure you've scrolled all the way to the right, where you can choose from ALL the figure skating options ⛸
1980 Winter Olympics poster featuring Roni, raccoon mascot
THREAD: Let’s talk about Roni, the outstanding raccoon mascot of the 1980 Winter Olympics …
the polish figure skating team in the kiss and cry holding a plush pierogi
IMPORTANT OLYMPIC NEWS:
THE POLISH FIGURE SKATING TEAM HAS A PLUSH PIEROGI
When Stephen Gogolev was at Cranberry Cup in August, is was evident his confidence had grown over the shaky years he had previously. That short program just now showed that. That was spot on. #Olympics2026
Thank you!
After tonight's pairs short program at the US Figure Skating Championships, I received a quote from MA Senator Ed Markey's spokesperson on Alisa Efimova's citizenship quest:
“Senator Markey’s office is aware of Alisa Efimova’s case and continues to explore options to resolve her citizenship status.”
I have a story coming Tuesday in the Boston Globe about Naumov's path to the Championships and his plans for the initiative.
On the eve of the U.S. Championships, Maxim Naumov is starting a mental wellness initiative. "My own journey — through competition, expectation, and loss — showed me how powerful support, language, and understanding can be."
Here is the GoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/building-s...
Efimova and Mitrofanov are reigning U.S. Champions in pairs skating, but currently can't make U.S. Olympic Team because Efimova is not yet a U.S. citizen.
My story on the Norwood pair's quest for citizenship and a second national title in the Boston Globe:
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/02/s...
Just spoke to reigning U.S. pairs skating champions Efimova and Mitrofanov for an upcoming Boston Globe story.
No update on Efimova’s citizenship yet, which she needs for Olympic team consideration. “It’s not a no, and it’s not a yes,” she said.
Alysa Liu says she’s keeping Promise for the rest of the season. She still plans to do the Lady Gaga program this season but she is waiting on the final music cut but the choreography is done. She will be doing MacArthur Park again at Skate America. ⛸️
When asked what his job is like with the Olympics just under 100 days away, USA Hockey's Pat Kelleher said, "I feel like I'm in a logistics department."
Matt Farrell mentioned US Figure Skating is behind other national governing bodies in terms of philanthropy, so one of his key moves right now is the establishment of a philanthropy department.
US Figure Skating CEO Matt Farrell spoke about beginning his position with the US winning 3 golds at Worlds. "My job right now is what do you do with the attention...What do you do with the spotlight."
Listening into Aggregate Sports’ “Inside Edge: A Power Summit of Winter Olympic National Governing Body CEOs” webinar, which features USA Hockey and US Figure Skating. I’ll share any interesting takeaways.
⛸️ This weekend at #SCI25, we heard what it sounds like when skaters -- with official permission -- use music generated by A.I. In short: not great. There's a good story here: www.patreon.com/posts/mrazko...
"We really want to continue to support them so that they have the opportunity to earn medals. If they are able to achieve that citizenship, then all of that data (to help in Olympic team selection) already exists." - Justin Dillion, U.S. Figure Skating High Performance Director
Back in skating coverage: Asked U.S. Figure Skating High Performance Director Justin Dillon about if/how planning is impacted by both Christina Carreira & Alisa Efimova's citizenship questions.
The short answer: it's not. Both teams are still amassing "data points" towards Olympic team selection.
You know, I have a list of songs I wish ice dancers would skate to, but near the top is totally a Canadian ice dance team doing an epic Gordon Lightfoot free dance. The possibilities! I know Kurt Browning has skated to his music, but think about it! It would be epic.
I wrote about something not sports-related for the Ipswich Local News this week. GASP! Me, a theatre writer? I did my best.
The Ipswich High Theatre Company puts its own spin on Godspell:
thelocalnews.news/2025/10/20/i...
My football recap for the Ipswich Local News was cut for space this week, but it's online here:
thelocalnews.news/2025/10/14/t...
My annual @bostonglobe.com women's college hockey preview is live!
BU gets a surprise recruit in goal, Northeastern has a Stryker, and BC relies on Taber.
Read here: www.bostonglobe.com/2025/09/24/s...
Captain's Practices has returned!
My women's college hockey newsletter relaunches with news about a new funding source for Michigan women's hockey
that will help with the next four seasons.
Read here: open.substack.com/pub/womensco...
I don't understand...nothing at SOI screamed, "Let's return to competition!" At least to not to me? Maybe it's just me.