Testimonials

Fellow skaters, skating officials, distinguished members of the press, and all lovers of skating worldwide -

I am sorry to be unable to attend today's historic press conference, but I wanted to make sure to show my support for the important changes proposed today for the sport of figure skating.

I have devoted my entire life to the passionate pursuit of a career in the incredible sport of figure skating. I care deeply for the generations of skaters to come, skaters who deserve a fair shot at making their dreams come true. For this reason, I write with great excitement to support the World Skating Federation, a new organization for figure skating's future.

Sincerely,
Kristi Yamaguchi
1992 Olympic Gold Medalist

IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE. Figure skating must be given a chance to grow. For that to happen, athletes must have a fair and equal chance, judging has to be open to scrutiny; those who violate their ethical codes must be gone. The organization that governs the sport must be open to new ideas, and fair criticism, must pay serious heed to its daily practitioners - the coaches -- and to the athletes who take part in it. Countries that have many athletes, coaches and skaters should have a greater impact than those who do not.

Figure skating deserves it own organization within the Olympic family. I congratulate those who have formed the World Skating Federation for the enormous amount of planning and preparation that went into creating a viable organization to lead this sport. This organization will have democratic roots and will value the input of all ideas. I heartily support the World Skating Federation and urge the support of all who want to see the sport reach its true potential.

Ted Clarke

I am honored to be part of this momentous event for the sport of figure skating. For the past forty-plus years that I have been involved in the sport in one way or another, I have longed for the time when the sport would be fair and just, when the children and young adult competitors would be given an opportunity to compete on the basis of merit, when the administrators of the sport would set a worthy example for its young participants, and when all the constituents of the sport could be proud to associated with it. The time has come. I place my full and entire support behind the WSF and the values that it espouses.

J. Misha Petkevich, DPhil (Oxon)
AB (Harvard)
1968 and 1972 Olympics

I think the WSF is just what figure skating needs. It's a fresh start. It represents hope for the future of our sport.

For years you have heard stories of corruption and politics in figure skating... Well, a lot of them are true.

The bottom line is the old system had its chance to work and it didn't.

Now it's time for a new system that does work...and it's time to put the skaters first.

All athletes have the right to be judged fairly, free of national bias, trade-offs, and incompetence, and... when they are judged unfairly, they need to have adequate recourse.

The future needs to be with more accountability...not less, which is the direction the ISU is moving in.

The WSF is separate from speed skating. It focuses on what is best for figure skating. It allows figure skaters to have input in all aspects of the federation...from making rules to guiding their careers.

From the embarrassing situation that took place at the Salt Lake City Olympics and the struggles that figure skating has gone through since, it has become evident that the current organization cannot police itself and that change is necessary. The WSF represents that change, and I am very happy to support it 100%.

Brian Boitano
1988 Olympic Gold Medalist