When Jeremy Abbott left the competitive world in 2017, the four-time U.S. champion had no idea what his future held, but from the outset it has been an exciting adventure with many different opportunities and many unexpected twists and turns along the way.
Inspired to take up skating as a 4-year-old after watching Robin Cousins compete, Jeremy Abbott moved from his hometown of Aspen, Colorado in 1999 at age 14 to train at the World Arena in Colorado Springs.
Six years later, when Abbott won the 2005 U.S. junior title, no one was more surprised than him. Following his victory, the then 19-year-old commented that “stranger things could happen; pigs could fly,” and from that point on he adopted a pig with wings as his mascot.
The next three years at the senior level brought varying results, but in the 2008-2009 season Abbott made history when he won the Grand Prix Final in Goyang City, South Korea — the first American man to ever do so.
A month later, he captured the U.S. title and earned a berth on the 2010 Olympic team. Abbott finished ninth in Vancouver. Four years later, he placed 12th at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
After 12 years on the competitive circuit, and an unsuccessful 2014-2015 campaign, Abbott decided to step away from competition and give himself some space. Though he did not know it at the time, that move would mark the beginning of a new chapter in his life.
“The 2015 season was not great. I was fifth at both my Grand Prixs and at nationals, which was my lowest ever U.S. Championships placement,” said Abbott, who had won his fourth national title the previous season.
“I was still in good condition and felt I had more left in the tank, but I wanted to do shows and give myself a break from competing, while still skating at a high level. I had triples in all my show programs, so I was keeping in good shape.
“I kind of sat out for two years and
