When the rules of judging skating in international competition changed in 2004 with the goal of making judging more transparent, one of the consequences was the rewarding of skaters who attempt more challenging technical elements in the pursuit of ever more points.

Tara Lipinski

Categorized in : More Rules Consequences Competition

The sound of the blades on the ice in the morning is like smelling fresh coffee.

Tara Lipinski

ice coffee morning

Over the years, God and St. Therese have kept me going no matter how bad things were.

Tara Lipinski

bad-things matter years

I am very competitive, so when I fail I use what I learned from that mishap to fuel success.

Tara Lipinski

fuel failing use

I would say facing the obstacles surrounding the day-to-day pressures of an elite athlete at a very young age was not the easiest task. Learning to deal with the nerves and feeling the pressure of representing my country, all while wanting to achieve my own dreams, was a big obstacle to plow through.

Tara Lipinski

athlete dream country

I believe in myself and in Saint Therese.

Tara Lipinski

figure-skating saint believe

Getting through a workout is just very fulfilling. That 'Ah, I didn't want to do it but I did it and now I feel 10 times better.'

Tara Lipinski

fulfilling workout

As long as I leave my frustration behind, I know I am moving toward my goal again.

Tara Lipinski

frustration goal moving

Career-wise, I was not the most naturally talented ice skater. Of course I had a knack for it , but practice was always the answer for me. I needed to put in the time to get back the confidence that led me to Olympic gold.

Tara Lipinski

careers practice wise

I love working out and when I'm home. I love the feeling of walking out of a class. That's just an addictive feeling for me.

Tara Lipinski

work-out home feelings

I love stepping onto the ice knowing I can create whatever I want or am feeling that day. It inspires me to be creative and artistic. It's a great therapeutic outlet to utilize both my heart and body at the same time.

Tara Lipinski

ice knowing heart

As an athlete, everyone was always like, 'Listen to your body.' Whether it's an injury or whether it's just a nagging ache, that can affect your progress just because you think 'Oh, I'll push through it today' and then you can't work out for two weeks. I've learned that, as a skater, I'm very aware of that.

Tara Lipinski

work-out athlete thinking

I try to eat pretty healthy, but I do love carbs. So, I'm not the person who could stick to a perfectly healthy diet. I love chocolate too so I always have dark chocolate Hershey's kisses in my purse ready for me to have throughout the day. Dark chocolate is my weakness!

Tara Lipinski

kissing healthy dark

I love to work out. I need to work out! Nothing makes me feel better than walking out of a spin or barre class knowing my body and mind got some attention.

Tara Lipinski

feel-better knowing class

I had that feeling of just pure joy and I went out there and put it in my program.

Tara Lipinski

program feelings joy

The highlight of my career? The Olympics, of course.

Tara Lipinski

olympics highlights careers

Acting is easier than skating in ia way and harder in other aspects. In skating, you get one chance, and with acting you get to do it over and over.

Tara Lipinski

acting athlete motivational

It used to be that I wanted to be taller. Once I made 5-foot-1, I was happy.

Tara Lipinski

used made feet

I can't even imagine what it's like and right now I'm like in shock, I can't believe that I'm Olympic Champion.

Tara Lipinski

champion imagine believe

Records are made to be broken, it is quite an honor that she is the one to do it. What a phenomenal talent.

Tara Lipinski

sports

I'm very proud that I was always able to be myself and didn't really care what people thought when I wanted bangs with my little Con-Air curling iron, and I wanted to wear glitter on my eyes and rings on every finger and charm necklaces that look like I was wearing baggage while I skated. But I do look back, and man, those '90s bangs.

Tara Lipinski

eyes myself man people