I think for a lot of my early skating career, I enjoyed doing it, but … I was young, and there were a lot of external motivating factors... as I've gotten older, I've really had to think about why I want to do this and what really kind of fuels my passion for it ...learning how to really connect with the artistic side of skating … this is where I feel I can express myself and really connect with people. – Wren Warne-Jacobsen
Figure skater Wren Warne-Jacobsenwill represent the United States at theFISU Winter World University Gamesthis week in Lake Placid, NY. As a youth, Wren spent several years in Puposky, MN before moving to the twin cities to pursue her skating dreams. Now a freshmen at University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Wren balances her academic goals with her skating passion, and she continues to fly high in both realms.
… getting into the sport and figure skating community in university… everybody there is really skating because they want to… The assumption that you have to stop training competitively when you start college is really proven wrong at that point. And I think that's really wonderful because there's all these young adults really skating because it's their passion, and I'm so happy that that's a community I've gotten to join and continue to be a part of. - Wren Warne-Jacobsen
In this Area Voices segment, we learn about how she balances skating with life, the art of creating her skating performances, and the selection process that won her a spot at the FISU World University Games.
I kind of like to describe it as a college Olympics. We have opening ceremonies… live in a village, and it's just kind of this great bringing together of athletes, student athletes from different sports at universities from around the world and all competing together… It's a qualification/selection process. I had to compete at NQS events, which is a national Qualifying Series last fall. And that's a process to qualify for the sectionals and the National Championships. But separate from that, my score and kind of leader board status at those NQS events was a major factor in me being selected for the World University Games. - Wren Warne-Jacobsen
Hard, consistent work pays off. Wren's advice to younger skaters with big dreams: don't give up.
Believe in yourself… I've worked for skating for 14 years now, and it's a continuous process of believing in myself and figuring out why I really want to do this… it's also okay to have doubts… I always kept going…and I'm in a place now where I really realize this is what I want to do. - Wren Warne-Jacobsen
The FISU University Games will host qualifying athletes from over 50 countries this week. Hoping to watch Wren compete? ESPN will cover the FISU World University Games.
Good luck, Wren!
