Above: World champion Alysa Liu promotes the Olympic Leave Your Mark campaign at Governing Council.
By Troy Schwindt
Stand on the podium with World champion Alysa Liu. Witness U.S. titlist Amber Glenn soar high into the air using a jump harness. Appreciate the artistry and grace of ice dance with demonstrations from World champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates.
These are just some of the exciting, interactive opportunities to experience the weekend of June 7–8 at the United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado, as U.S. Figure Skating launches its Olympic campaign “Leave Your Mark.”
The USOPM and U.S. Figure Skating is presenting this immersive celebration that will feature appearances by members of the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating national team, giving fans of all ages the rare chance to engage with the stars of the sport up close and off the ice.
The fun runs each day from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. The Museum is located at 200 South Sierra Madre Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80903. All activities are included with Museum admission. To learn more and plan your visit, click here.
“I’m so excited to have the Leave Your Mark event here in Colorado Springs,” 2024 U.S. pairs champion Danny O’Shea (with Ellie Kam) said. “Living and training here in Olympic City USA is so special, and we love the opportunity to meet with fans and get the energy going this Olympic season.”
Designed to inspire, educate and energize, the launch of the national campaign Leave Your Mark is aimed to connect the local community with the athletes, stories and the spirit that define the road to the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina, Italy.
Rinks, clubs and programs nationwide can also participate in Leave Your Mark. U.S. Figure Skating will be providing toolkits — both in the mail and digitally — that will help engage their members and create that Olympic buzz..
“We’re thrilled to partner with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum to celebrate the artistry, athleticism and community of our sport in a fun, hands-on way,” U.S. Figure Skating CEO Matt Farrell said. “It’s a chance to share the joy of skating and leave our mark on the next generation.”
Athletes scheduled to appear at the official launch include Kam and O’Shea, Olympian Bradie Tennell, two-time Olympic ice dance medalists Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani, 2024 World silver medalist Isabeau Levito, Glenn, Chock and Bates and Liu, among many others.
“I’m so excited to be able to engage with fans at the Leave Your Mark event,” Tennell said. “The start of an Olympic season is always so special and being able to share experiences and memories with fans who also love the sport is so meaningful. It’s a great way to remind ourselves and celebrate what the Olympics are all about — bringing people together.”
Levito adores her fans and can’t wait to see them at Leave Your Mark.
“I love receiving fan mail and messages,” the New Jersey skater said. “I appreciate the support I feel via cheers in the arena and I’m always grateful for their presence.”
Guests of all ages can take part in hands-on activities ranging from movement classes and creative art projects to timed sprints and interactive demos. The Museum will also feature unique memorabilia and artwork, including a painting by Olympic figure skater and artist Toller Cranston, on loan from the U.S. Figure Skating Museum.
On tap for this interactive weekend include the following fun stations:
Art Zone – Express your creativity by designing skates, making bracelets and writing how you plan to leave your mark on the sport and the community,
Dance Zone – Experience the artistry and grace of figure skating by participating in off-ice movement classes led by U.S. Figure Skating ice dancers.
Speed Zone – Test your speed by racing down an indoor track and compare your time to Team USA athletes while being timed by members of the national team.
Skills Zone – Navigate a “Path to the Podium” obstacle course featuring training challenges like the vertical jump and cutting-edge 4D Motion technology and see how it captures and analyzes movement in real time with elite skaters.
Live Demos – Watch national team athletes demonstrate how they train and refine their skills off-ice using tools like jump harnesses.
Costume Zone – Explore how athletes use costumes and artistic expression to enhance their performances during competitions and view some iconic costumes from the past on display.
Impact Zone – Discover how skaters from the past and present have made an impact on and off the ice.
Innovation Zone – Hear from Jackson Ultima skate technicians on equipment advancements and the evolution of figure skates.
Fuel Zone – Explore and purchase some of the favorite training snacks of elite skaters.
Podium Zone – Take a photo with elite skaters and receive a keepsake token to commemorate how fans intend to leave their mark.
Fine Arts Display – Learn about the artistic side of figure skating through the work of legendary skater and artist Toller Cranston.
Legacy Memorial – Pay your respect to the U.S. Figure Skating members tragically lost in Flight 5342.
“We’re excited to invite families and fans to experience the sport in a fun, meaningful way,” Marisa Wigglesworth, CEO of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum, said. “This is a chance to engage with the athletes and see the sport of figure skating come to life in Olympic City USA.”
