U.S. Figure Skating Uplifts AAPI Excellence in Boston
By: Jamie Su
As the city hosted the 2025 ISU World Figure Skating Championships, Olympic champions, aspiring skaters, and community members gathered on Saturday, Mar. 29, for U.S. Figure Skating’s “Celebrating AAPI Excellence: Together on Ice,” a Learn to Skate event spotlighting the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to the sport.
Hosted at the Steriti Memorial Rink in Boston’s North End, the sold-out event welcomed participants of all ages and backgrounds for a morning of on-ice instruction, live performances, and cultural celebration. The event, a collaboration between U.S. Figure Skating, The Skating Club of Boston, the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP), and Gold House, aimed to foster inclusion while honoring the legacies of AAPI athletes.
Throughout the morning, skaters of all ages and backgrounds joined in two sold-out on-ice sessions, each offering opportunities to meet members of Team USA, watch exhibition performances from upcoming junior skaters, and connect with AAPI leaders in the sport. Special guests including International Skating Union President Jae Youl Kim, 1992 Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi, and designer and longtime skating supporter Vera Wang delivered remarks during the event, emphasizing the importance of community and representation within the sport.
One of the event’s major highlights was the opportunity for attendees to meet distinguished AAPI figure skating champions. Among the special guests were Nathan Chen, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and six-time U.S. national champion; sibling ice dance duo Alex and Maia Shibutani, known affectionately to fans as the “Shib Sibs” and two-time Olympic bronze medalists; and Vincent Zhou, a 2022 Olympic team gold medalist. Fans were especially excited to see Alysa Liu, who had been crowned World Champion just the night before—marking her very first world title.
The event featured beginner-friendly skating lessons led by elite coaches and Team USA skaters, along with performances that highlighted the athleticism and talent of U.S. figure skating’s upcoming stars. Off the ice, guests connected through Asian culture with crafts, food and beverages, and henna. This event was part of U.S. Figure Skating’s ongoing efforts to celebrate the diversity of the figure skating community and encourage new participants to take their first steps onto the ice.
The week’s events also carried a deeper significance for Boston’s skating community. During the opening day of the World Figure Skating Championships, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu made an appearance at TD Garden to honor the local victims of Flight 5342—a tragedy that leaves a lasting impact on the city’s close-knit figure skating community. Samuel Auxier, the President of U.S. Figure Skating, read an excerpt from his poem honoring the lost athletes and coaches, specifically honoring Spencer Lane, Jinna Han, Evgenia Shishkova, and Vadim Naumov—all members of the Skating Club of Boston who tragically lost their lives on Jan. 29. Doug Lane, who lost his son Spencer and his wife Christine in the crash, represented the relatives of the victims and urged Congressional officials to investigate systemic issues within the Federal Aviation Administration. A memorial was held at the arena in tribute to the skaters and their families, with spectators joining together in a moment of silence before the competition began.
With the World Championships bringing international attention to Boston and the “Together on Ice” event offering an accessible entry point for new skaters, the week served as both a celebration of elite athletic achievement in figure skating and a reflection on the community's enduring spirit.
