Jason Brown: “When I perform, I hope to show future generations that there’s a place for skaters who face challenges with quads. It’s possible to thrive within the current scoring system and find success.”
Jason Brown Talks about competitions in Georgia, His Career, and Olympic Dreams.
original source: Sport24 dd. October 17th by Anastasia Loginova
In an interview with Russian media Sport24, Jason Brown reflects on his experiences competing at the Trialeti Trophy in Georgia, addresses the criticisms he has faced, discusses his Olympic season programs, and shares his aspirations for the future, both inside and outside of figure skating. Here’s a translation of his comments.
On competing at the Trialeti Trophy in Georgia
“It’s been absolutely incredible here. From the moment we stepped off the plane, the volunteers, organizers, and everyone involved in the event have been incredibly kind and welcoming. The audience was simply amazing! They cheered so loudly – I was blown away and didn’t expect such an incredible reception. Their support made performing here so enjoyable; I loved every moment of being on the ice.”
On Tbilisi’s atmosphere
“It’s truly wonderful. People are so kind, and the weather has been great all week. Just walking around the city and taking in its sights has been amazing – the architecture is breathtaking, and the food looks delicious. I can’t wait for tomorrow when I’ll finally try proper Georgian dishes. Until now, I’ve been eating fruits, vegetables, and meats, but no traditional Georgian meals. Now that the competition is over, I’m ready! I’ve been talking to Nika [Egadze]. We competed together in Kazakhstan before coming to Tbilisi, and he told me all about the Georgian dishes I should try. He also recommended places to visit – he’s been really helpful.”
On his mistake with the triple axel during the short program
“Of course, I’m disappointed. My coach and I will review the video together to figure out what went wrong. We’ll work to ensure that this kind of mistake doesn’t happen again during the Grand Prix stages. Naturally, I’m frustrated with myself because it’s not the kind of error I want to make. Nobody dreams of landing flat on their backside – haha. But that’s the beauty of Challenger events: they’re an opportunity to test programs, refine content, and gain valuable experience. Afterward, we analyze everything with the coaches and rework it so we can be stronger for the Grand Prix series.”
On competing two weeks in a row
“You know, I actually enjoyed it a lot. It’s definitely challenging, but I want to improve in this area. I don’t think I’ve ever had back-to-back competitions before – it’s funny to say this after 25 years in the sport. I’ve tried so many things in skating, but I’ve never competed in consecutive events. This season, I have back-to-back Grand Prix events: Skate America and Finland, so this was good practice. I’m also hoping to qualify for the Olympics and compete in the team event. If that happens, I’d need to perform twice in one week, so I’m doing my best to prepare for that kind of schedule.”
On his Olympic season programs
“My free skate is set to a cover of Say Something. It’s incredibly personal, telling the story of my career and how I’ve grown as an athlete and as a person. It’s about using your voice, speaking more loudly, and giving everything you have. Being in sports and figuring out who you are can be tough, and this program reflects my journey to understand myself – not just as a skater, but also as a performer. It’s also about owning your own story and finding strength in that.
I’ve faced challenges throughout my career. I didn’t always follow the typical path of a skater. I’ve dealt with technical issues, especially with quad jumps. But I want to feel like there’s a place for me in figure skating, even as I develop in a different direction. Through this program, I hope to inspire the next generation to see the value and uniqueness of our sport, particularly because it’s made up of so many incredible athletes and artists who push it forward.”
“My short program is to Riverdance. It’s crazy to think about – I skated to this music 12 years ago as my free program. It’s amazing people still talk about it after all this time. The support I receive for it touches me deeply. Bringing Riverdance back for the Olympic season feels like a way to thank my fans and celebrate this piece again with them.”
On the costume for Riverdance
“I don’t think it will be the same green costume everyone remembers. I wore my old costume recently because my new one wasn’t finished in time. The plan is to debut a new design during the Grand Prix series, but I haven’t seen the final version yet. It won’t be the same shade of green as before, but it will be something similar.”
On criticisms for competing without quads
“For years, I struggled with criticism, reading various things, and feeling disappointed in myself. But ultimately, one of the greatest parts of our sport is that figure skating is an art. And art is meant to be critiqued. It’s subjective – people can watch, analyze, and share their opinions. Some may love it, and others may not – it’s always open for discussion.
Regarding quad jumps, I train every day to improve, focusing on my elements and giving it my full attention. However, criticism can be processed in two ways: you can tell yourself you don’t belong in the sport, or you can strive to get better.
When I perform, I hope to show future generations that there’s a place for skaters who face challenges with quads. It’s possible to thrive within the current scoring system and find success. If I were to quit because I couldn’t land a quad and felt I didn’t belong, what message would that send? I feel there are many talented athletes and artists in our sport who might not find their place if I don’t share this perspective.”
On the evolution of his training
“My training regimen has definitely changed over the years. Now I spend about 80% of my time focusing on recovery and health off the ice and only 20% actually skating. When I was younger, it was the opposite – 90% on ice, 10% off. But the body can’t handle that many impacts over time.”
On whether this could be his final season
“I haven’t officially announced anything. Eight years ago, I thought I was done. Then four years ago, I considered retiring. And yet, here I am still skating. I don’t want to make any definitive statements, but I’m also not planning ahead beyond this season. My main goal is to deliver a flawless season, qualify for the Olympics, compete in the team event, and help the U.S. win gold. That’s my dream.”
On plans for the future
“I definitely want to stay involved in figure skating – it’s incredibly important to me. I used to think I’d do something entirely different after retiring, but now my heart feels completely dedicated to this sport. That could mean creating choreography, doing some coaching or mentoring, or working in media with athletes.”
On making vlogs and storytelling
“I would absolutely love to do that! Sharing stories in sports and helping other athletes share their own is something I’d be really passionate about. I also hope to perform in shows going forward.”
On the most memorable moment of his career
“The U.S. Nationals before Sochi 2014, when I qualified for my first Olympics, are the highlight of my career. The crowd’s reaction amazed me. While the Olympics themselves were incredible, that qualifying event stands out – it was completely unexpected for me at 19 years old. That moment essentially launched my career. I’d also mention the World Championships in Boston – there was something so special about competing at home and securing three Olympic spots for the U.S.”
On dreams within figure skating
“Oh, great question. I’m grateful to my coaches and choreographers for giving me the opportunity to perform programs that share different stories every year. It’s amazing how we move forward and explore something new each season.
When the federation asked which Challenger events I wanted to compete in, I answered, ‘Can I skate in Kazakhstan and Georgia?’ They were surprised, but I had never been to those countries. Having the chance to skate in new places is something I never take for granted. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to do what I love all over the world. Also, this season, I turned one of my old free programs into a short program – it’s a first for me.”
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