As Olympic Day 2025 approaches, the world of professional figure skating highlights a crucial element that many athletes hold dear: the power of training partnerships. The mantra ‘If you want to go far, go together’ resonates strongly, especially among elite figure skaters who understand how camaraderie and motivation can enhance performance on the ice.
This year, Olympians are encouraging local communities to invite a training buddy to their physical activities, and the reasons are highly compelling. North America’s own Nikita Volodin shares insights, emphasizing how his skating partner, Minerva Fabienne Hase, motivates him to push through challenging training sessions when motivation is low.
“When you skate together, not showing up just isn’t an option,” Volodin notes. His sentiment is echoed by Hase, who draws energy and inspiration from her partner’s perseverance, particularly on tough days.
The dynamics of partnership don’t stop here. Veterans from solo sports like boxing or rowing depict similar patterns where training with a partner leads to immeasurable gains.
Richard Torrez Jr., a silver medalist boxer, elaborates on this bonding experience, explaining how shared struggles at the Olympic Training Centre keep them accountable. “Having others around can change how you approach your workouts—transforming them into shared triumphs,” he states.
Newcomers to the sport, like Saudi Arabia’s Husein Alireza, also find the benefit of collaborative training. While training abroad, Alireza benefited significantly from the competitive spirit found in working alongside the U.S. women’s rowing team.
With roles continually evolving in figure skating, experts now ponder: Do training partnerships outbalance solo endeavors when contributing to an athlete’s career? The answer is likely yes as more skaters recognize the blend of competitive edge and emotional support from their training buddies.
On this Olympic Day, athletes everywhere are reaffirming that pursuing excellence—as showcased in figure skating—awards true strength when achieved with a diligent partner. The ice may be solitary, but the journey becomes profoundly shared.
