Figure skater’s beautifully ‘poignant’ Winter Olympics performance tugs at heartstrings
Figure skater Jason Brown performs at 2022 Beijing Olympics (Getty/Matthew Stockman)
Figure skater Jason Brown delivered one of his most emotional performances at the Winter Olympics.
After already earning a personal best at the Beijing Games earlier in the week, the Team USA athlete wowed once again with a stirring free skate performance that paid tribute to his Jewish roots.
Set to the emotional music by John Williams from Schindler’s List, the 27-year-old performed a dazzling routine which featured several difficult combinations.
The free skate – which was choreographed by David Wilson – earned him a score of 184.00, and he placed sixth overall. Brown previously came in ninth at the 2014 Sochi Games and missed the 2018 Olympics.
Jewish American skater Jason Brown’s choice to compete to the music of Schindler’s List at an Olympics where the host country is engaged in a Genocide is a poignant way to protest. pic.twitter.com/dVG6iYnuvP
— Ittay Flescher (@ittay78) February 10, 2022
After the stirring routine, one viewer wrote: “Jewish American skater Jason Brown’s choice to compete to the music of Schindler’s List at an Olympics where the host country is engaged in a Genocide is a poignant way to protest.”
“Jason Brown’s free skate might not be as technically difficult as his competitors but that routine was *stunning* give him his flowers too,” another wrote.
One fan added: “No quads but #JasonBrown added artistry and emotion with his skate to Schindler’s List. #Paulwylie would be proud.”
Speaking before his performance, Brown stated: “This music has meant so much to me since growing up, for my entire life.
Jason Brown of Team United States skates during the Men Single Skating Free Skating at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games (Xavier Laine/Getty)
“It’s a piece of music that I always wanted to skate to, I always felt connected to, but never felt like I was mature enough to take it on and put it together, to perform it in a way that I dreamt about when I was little.”
He continued: “Those feelings of not being mature enough came to a stop two years ago when I decided that I was ready to perform it.
“And I think by that point I’ve grown into myself a little more, of who I am, and I just felt very confident that I could portray it and bring it to life in a way that hasn’t been done before, that was hopefully very respectful and you could feel the emotion but at the same time a work of art type of way.”
Brown is one of more than 30 out athletes competing at the Beijing Games, the most ever at a Winter Olympics.
Only 15 openly LGBT+ athletes competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
