Competitive Figure Skating with Haley Yao
Haley Yao, OHSer and competitive figure skater, shares her story with Pixel Journal's Hannah Yang, below.
Haley Yao is currently a junior at the OHS and a competitive figure skater who has competed in the International Skating Union Junior Grand Prix as well as the Asian Open Figure Skating Trophy. Haley was born in the United States but is also a citizen of Taiwan. In her free time, she loves to cook and bake with her family and spend time with her friends and her dog named Louie.
Haley was just six years old when she first stepped on ice. When she was eight, she decided to pursue skating more seriously. Now, she skates almost every day of the week. She usually trains on ice for three to four hours a day and off-ice for an additional hour. One of these days is usually lighter, with only about two and a half hours of training. It is a relief for her because balancing skating and school work is “definitely a challenge,” according to Haley. “I try to squeeze in all my classes and do my homework before and after I skate, as well as in between sessions.”
We may not all be dedicated figure skaters, but at OHS, we all know that some of the most important lessons are learned outside the classroom. “Figure skating has taught me to get back up after a setback, and it's taught me to what it means to persevere and work hard for what you want,” Haley says. “Skating has taught me how to be disciplined and how to be aware of myself and my emotions. It has definitely given me a different perspective on life and daily challenges.” For Haley, some of these challenges include skating injuries such as the small ones that she has always dealt with, mostly in her right knee. This January, she discovered a tear in the patellar tendon of her right knee and she had to have surgery for it. She is currently in physical therapy to help it heal. Haley admits that “it’s hard to sit out while you want to train, and know that everyone else is training, but at some point, I realized that it would just be better to fully heal and then get back to it than to go back to early and re-injure it.”
When she was younger, not even a freak accident resulting in a concussion could stop Haley from skating for long. “It's really fun to learn new things, and it's a really great feeling when you finally achieve what you've been working hard for,” she enthuses. She loves the freedom and ability to express herself that skating allows for. That’s also why she enjoys performing her free program, which is a longer routine. “I feel like there is more of an opportunity to tell a story with it, and it's not as rushed,” Haley reflects. But her absolute favorite part of skating is that she has the opportunity to travel around the world to compete, because she can explore all the different countries and their cultures.
Haley adds that she is unsure of what her proudest skating moment has been. Instead, she emphasizes that she is proud of the culmination of her efforts. “I could say my proudest moment was winning a certain competition, but that's not how I would want to define my skating.”
Although Haley might skate in college, she will most likely only skate recreationally. Her current plan for the future is to go to college and focus on her academics. She has also considered taking a gap year or even coaching part-time. “Skating is a part of who I am, so I'm sure I'll find some way to stay involved regardless of what I decide to do.”