There's a lot of awesome in this one picture.
The 2014 Olympics are drawing to a close and champions in the five contested disciplines (team, pairs, dance, men and ladies) have all been selected.
But the stories of these athletes has gone far beyond the medalists.
There's the sheer guts of Jeremy Abbott who, battling the memory of a poor showing in the team event, fell hard in the short and lay immobile for 10 seconds before getting up and completing his program. THEN showing up the next day to skate a clean free.
Jason Brown, newcomer to the senior scene, who wasn't going to miss a single experience and was seen everywhere and with everyone. He even got a Valentine from a fellow Olympian who apparently went on a date with him to a hockey game.
Akiko Suzuki, overcoming personal grief to skate once more.
Maxim Trankov lived in poverty to skate, living at the rink, getting food donations from soldiers.
Then there's the skaters who were debuting not only themselves but their countries to the figure skating scene. Welcome to the chaos Phillipines and Brazil!
Speaking as a skater and a judge, I say thank you. Thank you for the early hours, the personal sacrifices, the challenges, the drive to push yourself physically.
But thank you, most of all, for the effort towards artistry. Mae Berenice for daring to be rock and roll in a pantsuit. Tatiana and Maxim for being courtly and otherworldly. Javier for his whimsy. Daisuke for being transcendent. Zoltan for being ZOLTAN! Shib sibs for the funk. Andrew and Kaitlyn for the heat. Various dancers for the fringe.
By definition, they say every baby and bride is beautiful. This extends to figure skaters.
Bravo to all the skaters at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
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