The journey to Olympic glory on ice begins long before athletes step onto the grand stage at venues like those hosting the Milan-Cortina Games. For Canadian pairs skaters Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud, the creative process started approximately one year prior to competition, with an intensive search for the perfect musical accompaniment that would define their performance.
The Critical First Step: Music Selection
"It begins with that feeling," explained Pereira, describing how she and Michaud listened to countless songs in cars and through earphones, seeking the emotional connection that would carry them through their Olympic journey. Their choreographer, acclaimed former American ice dancer Madison Hubbell, provided a curated playlist that eventually led them to Jessie Ware's "Say You Love Me," which became their chosen piece for competition in Italy.
Canadian coach Charlene Bailey emphasizes that music selection involves answering fundamental questions: "What's the vibe like? What are we wanting to skate to? What's going to put our best foot forward? Sometimes it could be a random piece that you hear, and you just know. Often it's kind of a pool of ideas and you narrow it down."
Balancing Artistic Expression and Technical Requirements
Athletes and coaches universally agree there exists no perfect recipe for constructing an ideal program. Instead, successful programs emerge from carefully balancing multiple ingredients including personal taste, technical requirements, and audience engagement goals. The music must allow skaters to express themselves confidently while simultaneously pushing their boundaries and demonstrating versatility.
This versatility often manifests through strategic music choices: punchier, dynamic pieces for short programs contrasted with longer, more classical compositions for free skate programs. All musical selections must adhere to International Skating Union regulations regarding lyrics, genre, and editing. While lyrics are permitted, they must avoid vulgarity and inappropriate themes. Music editing must showcase clear structural progression from beginning through climax to denouement, all within strict time limits for each competition type.
Beyond Judge Appeal: Creating Authentic Vision
Romain Haguenauer, a coach at Montreal's prestigious Ice Academy, cautions against selecting music primarily to appeal to judges, noting that each judging panel possesses highly subjective tastes. "So it's important to stay focused on the vision you're creating when you listen to some music," Haguenauer advises.
At developmental levels, younger skaters frequently gravitate toward music from popular films or pieces used by their idols at national and Olympic competitions. However, at elite levels like the Milan-Cortina Games, program design transcends mere judge impression. For many athletes, it becomes about conveying meaningful messages to fans and audiences worldwide.
Japanese skater Kaori Sakamoto, who won bronze in singles at the previous Beijing Olympics, exemplified this approach with her emotionally charged short program rendition of Andrea Bocelli's "Time to Say Goodbye." Performed in Italy, Bocelli's homeland, the piece brought spectators to tears as Sakamoto announced this would be her final Olympic appearance. "What a better place to skate to Andrea Bocelli than in Italy, right?" Sakamoto reflected.
The Structural Framework of Competitive Programs
Figure skating competitions feature four distinct disciplines: men's singles, women's singles, pairs skating, and ice dance. Competitors in each discipline must perform both a short program and a free skate (long program), with ice dance utilizing the terminology of rhythm dancing and free dancing instead.
Building these programs represents a meticulous process that extends far beyond initial music selection. After securing the perfect musical foundation, athletes embark on months of choreographic development, technical element integration, and relentless practice sessions. Each movement must synchronize precisely with musical accents, while jumps, spins, and lifts must meet stringent technical requirements without compromising artistic expression.
The ultimate goal remains creating a cohesive performance that resonates emotionally with audiences while maximizing scoring potential under the International Judging System. For athletes like Pereira and Michaud, this process represents a year-long journey of artistic creation and athletic preparation, culminating in those precious minutes on Olympic ice where every carefully designed element comes together in pursuit of sporting excellence.
