Jason Brown Interview
It's time to return to one of our favourite sports in Figure Skating as we chat with American Olympic bronze medallist Jason Brown about his incredible career! We learn from Jason the very unique way in which he got into the sport of figure skating as well as which other sport he had to give up in order to pursue his skating career. We also learn just how the 2010 Olympics played a huge part in spurring him on towards his Sochi appearance and just why a trip to Australia in between 2010 and 2014 was so influential on him. Added to this we learn more about his Olympic experiences in 2014 as well as why the disappointment of not making the 2018 Olympics is helping spur him on towards selection for Beijing 2022. It's a super fun chat that you won't want to miss!
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
Please note this is an automated transcript that may contain errors.
BEN WATERWORTH: It is Off The Podium, An Olympics Podcast coming to you once again today for another athlete interview episode. An exciting one for you today. We are returning to one of our favourite sports on the show, figure skating, to bring you our first ever American figure skater. We're speaking to Jason Brown, Sochi Olympian, bronze medal as part of the team event, and finished 9th in the men's single skating. And a great chat here with Jason, learning about how he got into the sport. A very unique way he actually got into the sport, a way that I feel it would be fun if a lot more Olympians got into their respective sports in this method. As well as progression at the ranks, sort of what it was about the 2010 Olympics that spurred him on to really push towards a 2014 spot. As well as his journey to this part of the world, visiting Australia and New Zealand, and just what it's going to take for him to return to the Olympics in Beijing, and how close he is to making his second Olympic Games. Great chat here with Jason Brown, US. Figure Skater. Sit back, relax, and enjoy this chat.
BEN WATERWORTH: Massive honour to welcome our next guest here to Off The Podium, as we return to one of our favourite sports. We always love having Olympians from the sport of figure skating on the show. And today, our first American figure skater on with such a esteemed career. He's an Olympic bronze medallist, a two-time Four Continent medallist, a six-time US national medallist, including the 2015 national champion. And I am so excited to learn a little bit more about his career and hopes and aspirations and everything else in between. It's a pleasure to welcome to the show Jason Brown. Jason, welcome to Off The Podium.
JASON BROWN: Oh, my gosh, Ben, thank you so much for having me.
BEN WATERWORTH: It's a pleasure. I was going to say, and added to that list of achievements, now an Off The Podium guest, which is up there with an Olympic bronze medal, let's be honest.
JASON BROWN: 100%. Absolutely.
BEN WATERWORTH: The show reel just keeps on going through.
JASON BROWN: It's an honour.
BEN WATERWORTH: Which, I mean, we obviously are delighted to have you on the show because, I mean, it's a bit of a busy time, I can imagine, for you right now, Jason. We're so close to the Beijing Olympics where we can just sniff it. It's around the corner. I mean, how are you going right now? How are you feeling? I mean, are you there? Are you going to Beijing? Do you know yet? Kind of like, what can you tell listeners straight away to know if we can be watching you very shortly at the Olympics?
JASON BROWN: Yeah, so in figure skating, the team has announced about three and a half weeks before the Olympic Games, which is so crazy at our US national championships. So we will find out this in 2022, we find out in Nashville, Tennessee, that's where they're hosting our championships. We don't call it a trials per se because there's still a selections committee that will decide the official team, but it's the first week of January. But speaking on kind of getting into that Olympic spirit, I'm actually, I flew in yesterday back to Toronto from an Olympic photo shoot with NBC and the US Olympic Committee. So it was just so, talk about the spirit and the energy and kind of just feeling like it's all, you know, ramping up. It was really, really awesome. And definitely I'm fired up for this week of training.
BEN WATERWORTH: Did you do any shoots with puppies this time around? I think you did some a couple of years ago, didn't you, in the lead up to Pyeongchang? There was an NBC puppy shooter. They're doing that again for Beijing.
JASON BROWN: We did not. Maybe it was, you know, part of that COVID protocol, you know, following, maybe, you know, puppies didn't make the cut with, you know, how do you test a puppy? No, I don't know. But it was really fun to do those shoots with them four years ago.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah, that's the damn thing about the pandemic. No, puppy shoots, that's very disappointing. The thing that I love sort of about your career, Jason, I feel like you were destined to be a figure skater. You were born in a very infamous or famous year for US figure skating, of course, 1994. You know, some people might know what happened in that year. I mean, was this kind of just destiny that you were to become a figure skater? Were all Americans born in 1994 just destined to be figure skaters based on what happened at the Olympics and the lead after the Olympics that year?
JASON BROWN: We can put it out and say it was destiny because who knows? But I actually started skating because my sister, when she was in kindergarten, was invited to a skating birthday party. And my parents were like, she's never been on the ice before. We would be such horrible parents to send our kid to this birthday party, you know, just drop her off and be like, good luck. So they put her in lessons, you know, in the lead up to this, you know, kindergarten birthday party. And those lessons ended up in like the, you know, they worked its way to do like the final, you know, show at that local ice rink. Saw my sister in that ice show with all the lights and the music and the costumes. And I looked at my parents, I was like, that's what I want to do. So, yeah.
BEN WATERWORTH: I love that sort of preparation for a birthday party. It's like we're going to a birthday party. You can't basically be crap at a figure skating. Let's get lessons. I mean, you don't go to a clown party and go take clown lessons. Like, I mean, kind of that's that's really forward thinking of your parents. I like that.
JASON BROWN: Well, I'm I'm glad you think that way. I think it's just, yeah.
BEN WATERWORTH: No, I just I think it should be more more of a thing. I want to find out more of our guests on this show kind of got into the sport based on, you know, a sibling getting a birthday invitation that they needed to practise for. I mean, this is this is I'm sure Michael Phelps. Maybe they went to a pool party one time. Oh, he needs to learn how to swim. So let's put him in there and prepare for the party.
JASON BROWN: Exactly. Exactly. Well, I mean, I do have to say if, you know, a five year old was invited to a pool party but didn't know how to swim, I do have to say you'd hope that the, you know, if those parents were going to let the kid go, they would teach them how to swim prior.
BEN WATERWORTH: A bit more stakes there for a five year old in the pool and just putting them on the ice and going, yeah, no, this isn't for me basically. So when you started and sort of started progressing, I mean, was it kind of just one of these sports that automatically you saw, as you said, you kind of, this is what I want to do. And then as soon as you hit the ice, as soon as you started developing those skills and kind of making way at the ranks, it just that passion continued outside of watching it?
JASON BROWN: Yeah, definitely not. I have to say that I actually fell in love with my coach. And like, I thought we were having like these playdates, like over, then I didn't even realise that I was like loving the sport and learning and progressing in that way. Like I really thought like each time I was like, oh my gosh, what are we going to do in this lesson? Or what are we going to do, you know, this time around in our, you know, really, truly like felt like I was being baby sack and just getting to spend time doing fun games. And, you know, I think it was a little bit of that deception of not really realising that I was progressing at the same time. Just because I was playing so many different sports, I was in, you know, I had such a range of activities that my parents put me in, which I guess a lot of parents do with kids that have a lot of energy. And so skating was just another one of those sports. I didn't really think, you know, twice about the passion or when I was younger about why I was gravitating towards the sport. But to me, it just seemed like I was having so much fun with my coach.
BEN WATERWORTH: What was some of the other sports that your parents sort of put you in? And were there other ones that maybe had you taken a different path, potentially we were talking about you as an Olympian in a different sport?
JASON BROWN: I think, you know, I'd like to think so. But I was involved with gymnastics. I did little league baseball. I was on a travel soccer team. I ran cross country. I mean, I was also not talking about sports, but I was in like school musicals and I loved theatre. So we really I was in a lot of different activities. But honestly, when it came down to it, and when certain kind of sports required more attention, like I remember when the gymnastics coach was like, OK, you're going to have to choose at this point. And I just remember I like the skating coach better. It had nothing to do with the sport. It wasn't like I like, you know, gymnastics over the ice. It was just like, I have more fun with this with my coach. So I was like, this is what I enjoy. But I'm glad on my decision, looking back.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah, kind of worked for me, I think, in the long run, right? Potentially, you know, kind of how that worked out. What was it, though, an ambition to go to an Olympics, like sort of when either you made that choice or sort of when you were doing well in gymnastics? And was it something that you thought, hey, this is the ultimate goal? Were you watching the Olympics as a kid going, hey, I want to achieve this as a goal?
JASON BROWN: You know, it's kind of funny because for me, it wasn't something that I really dreamed about as I grew up. But it was just because I think my family didn't really talk about it. It wasn't like, yeah, we watched the Olympic Games, but we also didn't come from a, you know, elite sport background to know how to get there. So it wasn't really like even while I was doing it, it wasn't like that was our end goal. I was still doing these, you know, sports as hobbies and because I was enjoying it. And it was, you know, you know, within five minutes from my house, it was part of the community. So I was just, you know, in so in the present moment with that, that I didn't think about these big aspirations. For me, there were kind of these two pivotal moments. I think that I started to see that I wanted to take it more seriously. And one was when I was in eighth grade, I was at a travel software tournament. And we lost in the finals at this tournament, which was, I mean, it was so great that we even made it to the finals. But I looked around and all my teammates were devastated. And some of them were crying and some of them were angry. And I was like, I couldn't wrap my brain around it. I was like, guys, it's soccer. Like, I don't like what, like, whoa, wait, guys, guys, it's a soccer game. Like, okay, like, let's all go out for ice cream and like move on. Like, we have school tomorrow. But then like a week later, I was at the skating event. And I had a, you know, a rough go, maybe missed an element or two in my program. And the audience was filled with my parents. Like, and I remember I was devastated. And I like had that, like, it was like that light bulb moment because I was so hard on myself because I felt like I put in so much effort and I worked so hard and I was, I loved my program so much and I didn't, you know, do what I, you know, went to do. And the nerves got the best of me. And I, I, it was like this moment of, oh, my gosh, this is how my soccer team felt. Like, this is what it means to really be passionate and to like want to strive for more and know that you have more, you know, in the tank and that you, you know, and that's when I started to kind of my focus started to shift to skating being that the main priority. And then in 2010, I was at the US. Championships and I had just won the junior title. And so the next level was senior. And I watched that week as the scene that as the Olympic team in 2010 was competing for their spots. And as it was announced, and I just remember being in the crowd and being like, Oh, my gosh, in four years, like, I just want to be on the other side of the boards. Like, I didn't even think about making the team as much as I was like, I just want to have a shot of like, what does that feel like to like, be in, you know, be a part of that experience as a senior skater in an Olympic year at the US. Championships. And so those kind of two were the biggest pivotal moments where I started to really, like, see the Olympics as a, as something that could be a reality or something that I wanted to pursue.
BEN WATERWORTH: So I love hearing those sort of moments where you can spur that on and particularly sort of, I guess, the Olympics being so unique, it's a four year cycle. So of course, you know, there's disappointments at one point and you got to work four years to kind of to build that on there and to kind of hear that sort of spur you on through that there too. So do you then take that moment and is it a case of train harder or is it just kind of as an athlete you're developing anyway, the older you get kind of like what did what was it from that moment then that turned you into an Olympian basically in 2014?
JASON BROWN: Yeah, I honestly, you know, I think it's a it's a mix of a lot of different things. I mean, there's definitely a mindset when you kind of make a decision, I think, you know, even growing up with everything I did, I gave 100% of myself, you know, yes, it was 100% of myself split up, you know, in different areas. But then it became yes, much more of that kind of tunnel vision. My life became much more about skating and school. And kind of those two facets and kind of giving it all I got. And so, you know, during, you know, the day I'd be going to the rink before and after school and during, you know, the summer, I'd go train at, you know, other elite facilities with my coach and really maximise the time that I had. And that kind of just kept building and to different and I guess you could say like overflowing into different parts of my life and making the most of it and maximising the time that I had. And after I graduated from high school, I moved to Colorado to continue kind of that pursuit and training. And so it was, it was, you know, obviously it's much easier to like say it than obviously living it. There's a lot more steps involved, but I do have to say that it definitely it's, it's anytime you make a goal, you kind of set that goal and then you kind of take the steps to achieve that. And the goal moves sometimes and it changes, but you're always kind of the mindset of moving forward and trying to just be the best version of yourself you can be.
BEN WATERWORTH: In the lead up to 2014 in between 2010 and 2014, I believe you actually competed right here in Australia in Brisbane, your first ever, was it junior Grand Prix event you won? I mean, what was the experience like then of getting to go to Australia at such a young age?
JASON BROWN: Best experience ever. And it made me extremely spoiled. I'm not going to lie. I think just like having an, I mean, in general, getting to go to Australia, but getting to go at such a young age, it was like, all I want to do is go back. And we had, we actually like, there was an event in 2020 that was cancelled. But I, it was obviously supposed to be in, actually, 2021. There was that Four Continents in 2021. So it's a 2020, 2021 season that was supposed to be in Sydney. And unfortunately was cancelled. But it's the same, like, I'm like, oh, like, I wanted to go back so bad, I wanted to work. But it was all because of that trip that I got to take, you know, in 2011 to Brisbane, that I've just been dying to go back ever since.
BEN WATERWORTH: But it was just an excuse. I mean, the 2032 Olympics, technically a summer games, but they're being held in our winter. So I'm just trying to think that, can we technically have figure skating in the 2032 Olympics? Because in Australia, there are winter Olympics, right? So I guess that counts.
JASON BROWN: In fact, I do have to say, speaking of that, I did go when I went to compete. It was in, I think, the very end of August, maybe the beginning of September. And I remember that me, my coach, and my parents all went to the beach and went swimming. And it was empty. Everyone thought we were crazy. They're like, what are you doing?
BEN WATERWORTH: Queenslanders like to think that their winter is cold. I lived there for a little bit. And if it dropped below 20 degrees Celsius, they would complain that it was cold. And I was like, yeah, this isn't cold.
JASON BROWN: But hey, we're from Chicago. Different, different meter when it comes to the climate.
BEN WATERWORTH: Just just just a bit. In the lead up to to Sochi, sort of through everything that you did achieve and kind of going back to your point where you're saying you wanted to be on the other side of those boards for that announcement. What was that like then when you were on those side of the boards for that announcement and you were going to the Olympics, you were an Olympian at that point?
JASON BROWN: Oh, it was insanity. I mean, to be completely honest, like I said in 2010 or what we were just talking about, I just wanted to be a part of the action. So for me, it wasn't my mindset was so about anyone. It was so about the future. It was so like, oh, in 2018 is like my year. But now just soak it up and learn and get the experience of what it's like to compete at a US championships on an Olympic year. And it was my first year competing internationally as a senior. So that also was just so exciting. I was suddenly competing against all of these men that I have been inspired by and that I wanted to be like, and I looked up to at such a young age. So that was just something that I was embracing and enjoying all of that. So suddenly, I skated my two programs. I ended up in second place at the US championships. I got one of the two spots. I was assigned to the Olympic team, and it was like this shell shock, yet most exhilarating, exciting feeling. And my parents and I were crying, and we were like, how is this happening? This is so cool. And as I mentioned earlier, the turnaround is three weeks before the finding out and being at the Olympic Games. And so there's obviously a lot that goes on in between those three weeks, and a lot of excitement, and a lot of media, and a lot of wrapping your brain around what's going on. So I just took it day by day and tried to take it all in.
BEN WATERWORTH: And added to that, a little viral video went far with your performance, right? So I mean, that media attention you're talking about obviously accelerated a little bit due to a little Riverdance performance.
JASON BROWN: It was unlike anything I could have ever imagined. I remember my brother texting me after I skated, and I had lots of congratulatory texts from a lot of people. And then my brother sent me this random text that was like, you have a thousand views already. And then two minutes later, he was like, it's at 10,000. And then a few minutes later, he was like, you had 100,000, a million, two million. And it was just like, what is going on? And it was, yes, it was very exciting, very unexpected. When you're living it and you train these programs day in and day out in front of obviously nobody, just your coaches and the empty stands at the rink while you're training, it's definitely thinking about something going viral or what kind of will spark an audience attention. Obviously, we're trying to perform our best, and we're trying to do what we do, but I just remember getting off the ice from that event, and my coach looking at me like, oh, this could have been better. You were a little slow here. We'll work on this in the future. Kind of take me through that way. And then suddenly having that turnaround of the reaction from the crowd and the audience and the way that the media kind of exploded around this program, it was quite memorable.
BEN WATERWORTH: Which is, we've spoken to several figure skaters on the show, and the thing I always like to talk about is just the energy that you must get in the middle of a performance, particularly when you're nailing everything, you're landing everything, you're performing, you're executing all the things you need to perform, and it's just the crowd builds, the music builds, and then just that moment at the end when it's just done, the crowd, crazy. I mean, I watched the performance beforehand, and I love the commentators. It's like, I'd hate to be the person who has to perform after him. Like, just kind of the way they kind of talk that up, it's fantastic. I mean, can you describe that feeling, that buzz, that adrenaline that you get at the end of a performance like that?
JASON BROWN: Oh, it's surreal. I mean, that's the feeling that I think all athletes and performers live for, when you can feel so connected to the audience, that their applause, you can feel it in your bones, in your stomach, in your gut, you can feel that excitement building. But I think, especially I remember in that, I don't remember much from that performance, which is obviously because you're trying to be so present, but what I do remember is the excitement in that stadium and constantly being like, okay, Jason, okay, breathe. I could feel it rising in my chest, and then I was like, okay, just keep performing. Just keep performing. And I think definitely when I hit that final pose, I just let it all come out, and I just embraced the audience and the excitement. I took a moment to look around myself and just kind of digest what just happened and kind of take in all their excitement. But I felt it every single step of the way from the start of the program to the last pose till me getting my scores. Like, I really felt the audience have my back and kind of push me forward that entire time, which is, you know, I will always cherish that.
BEN WATERWORTH: The experience of the Olympics itself, we always love finding out from our guests, obviously outside the competition side of things, just everything around the Olympics, being in the village, seeing the rings, ceremonies, if you got to experience all that sort of stuff. I mean, do you soak it all in? I mean, you were talking before about maybe, you know, 2018 is going to be my year, but like, given that you're thinking this is going to be the first of many Olympics, do you take a moment to take it in, or is it a little bit different thinking, well, I've got more of these to go, I can take it in more in the future?
JASON BROWN: You know, I definitely have the mindset of take this all in so you can learn from it and apply it to the future. So, you know, I think that's, you know, when I look back at it, I don't know, you know, you're always, you know, question, was that the right mentality? Should I have, you know, because it doesn't mean you're going to have another shot in the future. But I think at a young age, when you're a teenager, or when I was a teenager, I kind of thought like, oh, of course, this will be my first of many, you know, being there at that such a young age, you're just like, you almost kind of be like, yeah, of course, if I made it now, I can make it again. And so I looked at it as like, okay, just take everything in, learn as much as you can, so then you can apply it the next go around. And so, no, I went to the opening ceremonies, which was spectacular and amazing. And I, you know, I just made the most of, I think for me, it was just the coolest part of the games is like you're surrounded by the best athletes from all over the world, from all different sports. And then not to mention it was my first, like I said, my first senior year competing internationally. So I was also, everyone in the skating world was someone that I respected and looked up to. And I was like, and I wasn't at that time kind of friends with, I was still like that newbie that I was just like, wanted to aspire to be like them. So I was just like soaking that all up. And at an Olympic Games, I mean, you're, everyone who you come in contact to seems to be like more kind of famous than the next person when it comes to athletes. So seeing people at the Team USA house and just like, looking left to right, being like, where am I? Like, what is going on here?
BEN WATERWORTH: And you're their teammates too. That makes it even more crazy, doesn't it?
JASON BROWN: Exactly. That's the craziest part. It's like, I looked at my teammates the exact same way. So that was just special as well. And so I think, you know, and then obviously, as you mentioned, just seeing the rings everywhere, they obviously hold significant meaning to every athlete, but then suddenly you're like surrounded by them. It's not like you like, you know, you see it on, you know, you look down and you obviously see it on your jacket. You look at the rink and they're all over the boards. They're on centre ice. You know, they're huge rings in the middle of the village. So I mean, it's just that concert reminder of like, whoa, like, whoa, here I am.
BEN WATERWORTH: You are there at the Olympics. The thing that's actually really fascinating, obviously we'll talk about the team event in a moment, but you winning a bronze at those Olympics, until Nathan got a bronze in Pyeongchang, you were the youngest figure skater medallist this millennium, essentially, at just over 19 years of age. I mean, incredible to think that you were still the eighth youngest ever medallist in the sport of figure skating at the Olympic Games. I mean, you talked before about kind of setting your sights at 28. Could you ever believe that if you're going to be an Olympic medallist, you're going to be doing this before you're even legal to drink, basically? I mean, it's crazy to think that.
JASON BROWN: No, no. I mean, I think, you know, when... I think those are such aftermath kind of shockers and things that you don't even think about. Obviously, you're just doing what you're doing, and then suddenly you achieve something, and then it would be someone to tell me, you are the youngest, blah, blah, blah, since then. And you're like, wait, what? I think they're definitely all just aftermath. They're not something that I thought about in the moment, or I was like, oh, I need to... If I'm metal, I'll be X. I was just doing what I do, and then it unfolded the way it unfolded.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah, for sure. And I mean, the team event obviously was its debut in Sochi. I mean, it's such a fun event. I mean, as an Australian, we barely see any figure skating until the Olympics. It's basically our only opportunity to ever watch it. And it's just such a fun event to kind of watch and kind of how they combine everything with that. I mean, what was sort of the vibe like on the American team? I mean, was it sort of, hey, we've got a chance at a medal here. We're going to come away with one. I mean, come away with the bronze. Was that excitement? Was it disappointed that you could go more? Kind of what was that vibe like during that competition?
JASON BROWN: You know, I think a couple of things. What's neat about the team event is it's the first skating event of the Olympics. So none of us had competed yet as far as any of our individual events. So it is like I think everyone was just so pumped up to get on the ice and to start the competition. We had worked so hard. So I think that was just exciting and on its own, the fact that that was the first of our events. And then I think on top of that, like you said, it was the first team event to ever, you know, happen at the Olympic Games. So we were all just thrilled to then be part of that and the fact of like, how is this all going to work? And like you said, the third thing is we had a shot at a medal and we were like, we are all, you know, we're in this together. Every performance matters. It all counts. We're going to support ourselves through this. Because it hadn't been done before, the event, I think we were all new to it and how it was going to work. And we just were all there for each other and we're pulling for each other and there in the booth, you know, cheering each other on. And it was so special to experience that with them. And it being a part of the first, you know, the inaugural event. And so I look back at, you know, some of those pictures and those moments and those videos of all of us together. And, you know, we got that medal as a team. And so that's really pretty special to kind of carry that memory.
BEN WATERWORTH: I always like asking Jason, our medallists, guess what they do with the medal. So I have to ask you, what is it? Is it on display in the sock drawer? Like, where is it?
JASON BROWN: It is in my parents' closet in their safe.
BEN WATERWORTH: Right. Okay. Is it a plan that maybe, though, that, like, once you come back with the gold from Beijing, a couple of gold from Beijing, that maybe you're going to have this, like, wall display or something like that? I mean, kind of, is it plans or?
JASON BROWN: You know, it's so funny. So, I actually, I have a big world map in my room at home, and I have all my international medals pinned to it. The Olympic medal is hella heavy. So, the pin wouldn't quite, you know, keep it held up. But it is funny that all of them are up there, except that one.
BEN WATERWORTH: Except that one. It's a bit of a different one, right, though?
JASON BROWN: Yeah.
BEN WATERWORTH: And the Sochi one, such a beautiful medal, too, kind of like with a frosted glass kind of style to it. It's a unique sort of looking medal, which is really nice. In the singles event, you finished ninth. Did you set a goal for yourself sort of in that? I mean, how did you sort of leave Sochi outside of the team event, thinking how you competed in the singles?
JASON BROWN: Yeah, you know, it's a mix of both, I think. The singles event for me was a bit bittersweet. I think, you know, I obviously went in to that event, like I mentioned, being like, oh, my gosh, like, I'm just here to kind of soak it all up. Obviously, you always want to do the best that you can. But being kind of so new to the international scene, the senior scene, I was just like, I don't know how I'm going to end up or what's going to happen. And I ended up after the short program being in sixth, like being less than a point out from third. And it was like, it was so kind of shocking. And exciting. And I think suddenly it was like, suddenly I was thrown into this, like, Oh, my gosh, you could metal and you can do this. And then like the I got kind of lost in all that hype. And so the long didn't go as I had hoped. I got a little ahead of myself. But it definitely taught me about kind of keeping your mindset, you know, really focused throughout, because I think I had such a consistent mindset. And then suddenly, you know, I had this amazing curve ball being thrown at me, but the narrative and the goal suddenly shifted with it overnight. And I think that if I had definitely come in with the, you know, the mindset of you just take each day and you kind of stay focused and present and anything could happen, I think I, you know, obviously, you know, hindsight's 2020. I don't actually know what would have happened, but I definitely see that as I wish I didn't look at that moment after the short and suddenly like change my mindset for the free and just, or I've got or went into the Olympic Games thinking anything could happen, not woohoo, like you do your skate and you're like, huh?
BEN WATERWORTH: Which do you then take moments like that a year later, you become the national champion? I mean, do you kind of reflect on moments like that then, as you were saying, that kind of don't look at it this way, go into it with a different mindset, and then you walk away as a national champion a year later?
JASON BROWN: 100%. And not to mention, I skated dead last at the Olympics for that free program. So I think on top of that, that was just a big learning experience that I took with me, like you said, to the national championships a year later. And I think once I skated last at the Olympics with a shot of a medal, then you're like, OK, I learned a lot. I learned a lot. And I think, yes, I think the biggest kind of thing in life that we can do, whether you're in athletics or not, is taking what you learned and then applying it to the future. So I think that's what was so rewarding about those national championships was the fact that I kind of took that experience and learned from it and grew from it and kind of, you know, found myself on the top of the podium in the US a year later.
BEN WATERWORTH: Which, again, on that, not to dwell on what happened in 2018, but obviously the disappointment of not making it 2018, then you can obviously take that to where you are right now, so close to another Olympics to... You've been on both sides of it. You've been on the euphoria of making Olympic teams and obviously the disappointment of not. So you can kind of balance that out now and hope to kind of use that both towards the Beijing Olympics?
JASON BROWN: That... You couldn't have said it better. I think 100%. I think it took me a year probably to see that and to see kind of that other side of the disappointment from 2018. And so... But I think it definitely... There was this... It almost... By having that super difficult low in my career and going through that experience, I think it also kind of showed me that everything will still be okay. And you get up the next day, and you continue on moving on, and you have that perspective. And I think I'm not as... I don't define myself by if I make the Olympics or not, or that everything's riding on this one event. And I think after making the 2014 Olympic team, which was so exciting, I went from kind of taking everything year by year, event by event, to being like after 2014, I was like, okay, 2018. 2018, everything was about 2018. How can I get back? How can I be the best? How can I do everything correct to get me there versus living every single day and being kind of adaptable in that moment? I was almost kind of became so rigid, in the scheme of the four years to... And if I didn't get there, I was a failure, because only people knew me from 2014. So if I don't get that 2018 mark, then it's like... I just put a lot of pressure on myself that way. But to miss it and to have such a difficult US. Championships that year, it definitely was a... It was weirdly freeing, because I think it taught me that, you know, you'll be fine. And so I didn't feel like I only had, you know, down to go. It brought me back to... I hit rock bottom, and I'm going to continue climbing. And you kind of just find that passion again, and you're on kind of a mission to see what you're capable of versus seeing what, you know, what can be taken away from you.
BEN WATERWORTH: Well, one positive I want to say that came from that is that you got to go to New Zealand. I watched your video. I watched your dancing video, Jason, and you went to some amazing spots. I lived in New Zealand for a little bit. I was very close to a lot of the places. You went to Milford, you went to Monica, Queenstown, amazing places. What's happened to the dancing channel, Jason? I'm disappointed. I want to see more of these. It's gone silent for a few years. Where are the videos?
JASON BROWN: I know, I know. You know, it's so funny. I set out to do... When I kind of started that YouTube channel, I said I set out for the... I'm going to document the Olympic year. And so I documented from the start of the 2017 season all the way through the end of the 20... Like when it ended in 2018. And so I, you know, obviously it was a very difficult time in my life. And I think that it was... I loved kind of sharing it with the world. And I think, you know, kind of going through that process taught me so much because each event I would kind of get to recap and think about. And I have this, you know, beautiful diary that I could look back on. But the year ended and I kind of was like, okay, I need to kind of close that chapter and move forward. So maybe, maybe we'll bring it back in the future. But when I kind of started that channel, I said, I'm doing this for a year. And so I learned a lot from that year. But I kind of closed that chapter down.
BEN WATERWORTH: Which, speaking of closed chapters, do people ask you more about bringing back the YouTube channel or bringing back the ponytail?
JASON BROWN: Definitely the ponytail. I get asked about the ponytail quite frequently.
BEN WATERWORTH: And is it coming back? Can we see a return of it?
JASON BROWN: It is not coming back. I mean, hey, if I'm, you know, as I get older and if I still have hair and I still have the ability to grow it out, who knows? But at this moment in time, there are no future plans.
BEN WATERWORTH: No future plans for the podcast. Okay.
JASON BROWN: I loved it. I had it since I was, you know, maybe eight years old. From eight to 23. Loved it. It was a beautiful, you know, it was a part of my life, a part of me. But it is, I watched them sweep the hair away after they cut it.
BEN WATERWORTH: You didn't like pick it up and put it on the map?
JASON BROWN: I watched them sweep it away and throw it in the trash. It's like goodbye.
BEN WATERWORTH: And now you just have to watch that video all the time and go, Oh, that ponytail, there it is. These damn hosts keep asking me about it all these years later.
JASON BROWN: I love talking about it. I love talking about it, but no, it is not making a return.
BEN WATERWORTH: Not making a return. Before we let you go, Jason, obviously, we always like to sort of give our guests a chance to update. Where can people follow you? Obviously, if you're going to bring the YouTube channel Jack, but like Instagram, Twitter, where can people sort of follow the journey between now and Beijing?
JASON BROWN: Yes, I'll really be documenting most of my journey to Beijing on my Instagram and Twitter accounts, which is at it's at Jason B Skates. And it's just honestly, I try to give an inside look at my life and give training updates. And it's going to be a really, really exciting next couple months, no matter what comes of it all. It's going to be amazing and it's going to be exciting. And I'm in for a ride, but if you follow along, you'll also be in for kind of a little treat of what it's like behind the scenes as us athletes gear up for the Winter Olympics.
BEN WATERWORTH: We do love watching it. We love paying attention to sort of all the athletes, no matter where you are in the world and kind of seeing it. Because obviously we see a different insight. We've had Australians, we've had Canadians and now American skaters on the show. It's always obviously a different journey and we sort of love kind of seeing it. And Jason, we're going to be keeping a close eye and crossing those fingers of Beijing and look, we'll get you back on with two gold medals around your neck from Beijing. We're saying team and the solo skate, it's coming back. It's coming back home, right?
JASON BROWN: Hey, it sounds like an awesome plan. Let's do it. I'll see you in March.
BEN WATERWORTH: A massive, massive thanks there to Jason for his time. A lot of fun, and I highly recommend looking up not only his performance from the US Figure Skating Championship in 2014, amazing performance to Riverdance. And also you will get to see the ponytail that I did mention right at the end there. I have to say, suits him. Just gonna say, hashtag bring back the ponytail. That's my opinion. But big thanks to Jason for his time on the show. Plenty more great interviews to come between now and Beijing. Plenty, plenty of content to keep you occupied. If you want to stay on top of all the content that we do have, of course you can subscribe to the podcast, search Off The Podium on all good podcasts and platforms. And while you're there, leave us some feedback. We'd love to hear what you think of the show. And also, while you're online, why not jump on social media? Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, search Off The Podium. You'll be able to stay up to date with everything that we've got going on. And of course you can go back and listen to past interviews, past episodes. Big thanks again to Jason. Big thanks again to you for listening. My name is Ben. This is Off The Podium. And as always, go left.
Comments