Above: Several former and current Team USA athletes worked as trial judges at the Eastern Sectional Single Final in Boston.
By Kama Stigall
When Harrison Choate retired from competitive figure skating in 2013, he was looking for a way to stay connected to the sport.
“I think a lot of former high-level skaters struggle a little bit when their careers end,” Choate said. “You have something that you’ve been so passionate about and so invested in for so long, but when you retire, where does that passion go?”
Officiating proved a path forward for Choate.
“It turns out I still have that same passion for figure skating, and now I feel like I’ve found the perfect outlet for it in judging,” he said.
Choate’s positive experience is one that the National & Team USA Athletes Officiating Program hopes to replicate in the years to come. The program recently introduced a select fast-track officiating option for Team USA athletes.
“It is crucial for athletes to get involved in the officiating side of figure skating, because they possess unparalleled knowledge of the sport, its techniques and the demands of competition,” said Matthew O’Toole, the chair of the Domestic Officials Recruitment and Management Committee (DORM) and a member of the International Officials Management Subcommittee.
O’Toole began officiating in 2010. He has extensive judging experience, currently holding appointments as a national competition judge and national referee for singles and pairs. In addition, he is a national technical controller and specialist for synchronized skating, and a national competition judge for Theatre on Ice.
“In June 2022, the U.S. Figure Skating Board of Directors put together an Officials Innovation Group and tasked them with modernizing, creating transparency and professionalizing the officials’ training, advancement, selections and assessment process to support officials throughout their careers,” he said.
The number of figure skating officials has declined in recent years. All officials serve on a volunteer basis, which can create time and financial constraints for many aspiring judges.
“The most common feedback since the onset of COVID-19 has been that we don’t have enough officials, yet people who want to become officials are finding the process cumbersome, time-consuming and expensive,” he said. “The most challenging period has been 2017–2021, with the implementation of SkateSafe® compliance and the pandemic. Though we had 154 new judges who earned appointments, we lost 245, which is a net loss of 91 judges.”
In collaboration with both Karen Terry Perreault, the national vice chair for judges, and Alyssa Liverette, the national vice chair for officials recruitment, DORM has successfully provided several national and Team USA athletes with their first officiating appointments through the new program.
Choate became an official in May 2024. He became aware of the opportunity after his former coaches suggested he reach out to O’Toole.
“My former coaches [Mark Mitchell and Peter Johansson] were at a camp with Matt O’Toole talking about prospective judges this past year,” Choate said. “They connected me with Matt, and he helped me understand how I could accelerate my judging career based on my past skating experience. It helped me take something that had been a thought or goal for years and make it a reality. Getting immersed again in the skating world and starting judging in 2024 was the absolute highlight of my year.”
Two-time U.S. collegiate champion (2019 and 2024) JoonSoo Kim is in his second year of medical school at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. The fast-track officiating program has allowed him to balance his studies while still maintaining a link to the sport.
“It was helpful to be able to bypass some of the traditional requirements to getting my qualifying appointment, because it significantly lowered the barrier to entry for an important role within figure skating,” Kim said.
He continued, “Our sport depends on the volunteerism of officials. For former competitive skaters, becoming an official through the fast track is an impactful, relatively low-commitment way to give back to the sport that also allows you to utilize the figure skating knowledge you’ve acquired over the years.”
Paige Rydberg, the 2021 U.S. collegiate champion, became involved with the fast-track officiating program after volunteering at a competition for her local club.
“Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of learning from many influential officials who taught me both personal and technical skills that I still carry with me today,” Rydberg said. “I hope to have the same opportunity to leave a positive impact on skaters, helping them build skills and confidence that will support them throughout their skating journey.”
Rydberg feels judges provide tremendous value.
“Officials play a key role in helping skaters progress — whether it’s mastering a new jump, improving their scores, or refining their overall performance,” she said. “By stepping into this role, you become part of the process that helps shape the future of skating.”
By sharing their knowledge, time and enthusiasm, officials are helping to elevate the sport to new heights.
“Your involvement can inspire a new generation of skaters and contribute to the continued growth and evolution of figure skating,” O’Toole said. “While the transition may seem daunting, your expertise is exactly what the sport needs to thrive.”
Team USA Skaters on the Fast Track
Jordan Alexander
Evan Bates
Leatrice Bulls
Harrison Choate
Madison Chock
Amanda Evora-Will
Pilar Helm
Lyra Katzman
Joonsoo Kim
Alexander Johnson
Jenna Longo
Morgan Matthews
Stephen Murray
Avonley Nguyen
Sebastien Payannet
Paige Rydberg
Devin Wang-Pao
