Figure skating is a sport for the determined, days filled with new hurdles to overcome. Those challenges are what keep athletes like Josephine Lee in the sport, fueled and excited by every obstacle that comes their way.
Like many kids, Lee tried many sports, including tennis and swimming. She quickly found success in everything she was doing, except when she hit the ice. Figure skating was her first taste of failure, and that was its magic.
"This was the first time I ever failed, and it was probably the thing that came the least natural to me," explained Lee. "It was really hard and that's what really appealed to me."
Lee dedicated herself to overcoming each setback, loving the journey of training, and then ultimately seeing the success that often follows that. In the 2021-22 season, she qualified for her first U.S. Championships as a junior, earning the bronze medal.
The 2022-23 season brought an international season with two Junior Grand Prix assignments. After an unexpected reschedule of events, Lee was faced with competing those assignments in back-to-back events in Poland. Despite this new twist, Lee remained excited about the opportunity and looked for ways to make the most out of the condensed competition schedule.
"I really needed to keep my mind in the game for a whole two weeks instead of just one week," Lee said.
She used those two weeks to focus on her mental game, practicing meditation and working closely with her sports psychologist Dr. Caroline Silby. Lee finished her first event in ninth and improved once again at her "redo" the next week, placing seventh and receiving international personal best scores.
Following her stint on the Junior Grand Prix circuit, Lee returned home to train for her senior debut at the 2023 Toyota U.S. Figure Skating Championships last month in San Jose, California. There she was faced with overcoming a disappointing short program, after finishing the event in 11th following a missed combination jump.
"It kind of felt like a dream after I popped my jump because I was like, 'Oh my God, what is happening,' And I really wanted to go back in time at that moment but at that point, I couldn't do anything, I just had to finish the rest of my program," she recalled.
A senior debut at the U.S. Championships can be an intimidating experience, especially for Lee, who was just 14 years old at the time. Stepping foot on the ice with some of the most well-known and seasoned athletes was an overwhelming experience for Lee.
"I told myself that I can only cry for the rest of this day and tomorrow I need to focus on my job," Lee said.
"I think the nerves got to me that day, especially skating after Gracie Gold is kind of overwhelming," she later added.
No stranger to being the underdog this season, Lee prepared to get herself back in the game for the free skate. She was determined to produce a solid free skate and showcase all of her hard work in training.
"The only way to go is up, and I have to show everyone what I have been doing in practice every day," she said.
Lee did just that, with a stellar fourth place free skate, which opened with a floaty triple flip-triple toe loop combination, and resulted in an overall fifth place for her senior debut.
"It felt really amazing, I wish I'd soaked up the moment even more because I got off the ice pretty fast," she said with a laugh.
"I was just so relieved that I had shown on a big stage what I have been doing in practice every single day," she added.
Her strong showing in San Jose earned Lee a spot at the Junior Worlds camp, where the Team USA men's and women's teams were selected. After a quick turnaround from the U.S. Championships, Lee's mental strength was once again tested. And yet again, she viewed the event in Las Vegas, Nevada, as a chance to improve on her disappointing short program.
"I just learned that I need to attack more from the Junior Worlds camp and Nationals," she explained. "Going into Junior Worlds, I know that I need to attack more."
After a strong showing in Las Vegas, Lee was named to the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2023 team, a first for the now 15-year-old. The teenager is thrilled for another opportunity this season to put out two strong programs and prove that she is one to watch among the upcoming crop of U.S. women.
"I just want to skate my best and put two clean programs together, and really attack and not hesitate," Lee said.
Lee is steadily conquering the one sport that challenged her as a child. She continues to be excited and fueled by each challenge that comes her way with the upcoming Junior World Championships in Calgary, Canada, next on her horizon.
Josephine Lee and the 16-member U.S. Team will compete in Canada at the World Junior Championships starting March 1. For results, bios, news and more, visit the page's competition central.
