If you knew me in my childhood, you are well aware that figure skating was my life.

I slept, ate and drank the sport for 17 years. I always wanted to attend an international competition (looking at you Winter Games!) and would beg my parents to take me to Colorado Springs to the Olympic Training Center for a tour.

When I hung up my skates more than 20 years ago for college, I had no idea more than two decades later I’d be living the dream of my childhood—not in a pair of figure skates, but representing the hardworking athletes and the sport of luge that I fell in love with as an adult.

Cheers to my USA Luge family for a fun and successful World Cup in Lake Placid this week!