Abbott shows off artistic side
American seeks first worlds medal
Allison Scott would love to say it began with her. But she knows that’s not the truth.
When Jeremy Abbott was 4 or 5, he’d stand on his mother’s feet, hold on to her hands, and together they’d dance to music playing on the stereo at their home — mostly jazz but lots of oldies, too.
Scott knows that, while her memories are poignant, the truth about her son’s figure skating — the artistic pursuit Abbott followed to win three of the last four U.S. men’s titles — can’t be defined by an anecdote from his childhood.
“There are things that sometimes you can’t explain,” Scott said.
Abbott, who trains at the Detroit Skating Club, will attempt to win his first world medal in this week’s World Figure Skating Championships in Nice, France. And he’ll try to do so with a pair of programs that could double as self-portraits. The short program is Friday.
Yuka Sato, who coaches Abbott with Jason Dungjen: “He’s a true artist. He feels things, and he enjoys the process of the project of creating whatever he’s trying to perform.”
Abbott’s two competitive programs this season show the contrasting sides of his personality. After pushing himself last year with a Flamenco short dance, he opted this year for a playful swing medley.
Abbott’s free skate program is an introspective piece to Exo
genesis: Symphony by Muse. Its choreography is a collaborative effort between Abbott and Sato.
The last time Abbott performed it perfectly in competition — including with the quad — was at nationals in January in San Jose. During his performance, his stepfather, Allen Scott, collapsed and was taken to a nearby hospital.
Allison Scott said her husband had recovered and was doing well.
Abbott’s program components have steadily improved. But he knows it’s essential to execute the technical elements of his programs to be within striking distance of the lead group at worlds. The leaders likely will include defending champion Patrick Chan of Canada and Olympic bronze medalist Daisuke Takahashi of Japan.
“I’m always trying to show different aspects of my personality and different sides of myself to grow and expand,” said Abbott, 26. “Each season, you only get to see one or two sides of me. But if you kind of go back and look at my career, you can kind of get more of a picture of my story.”
Ask those who know Abbott best about the quality of his skating, and comments flow like silk.
From world ice dance champion Meryl Davis: “He has an ability to express dance. He feels every movement. It’s his whole body. When I watch him, I get sucked into his performance.”