LEXINGTON, Ky. — With the Winter Olympics in full swing, it’s driving curious athletes across Kentucky to their local ice rinks to lace up their own skates.

The 2022 Winter Olympic Games often motivate the next generation of high caliber athletes. 

For 14-year-old Abby Vogel, skating is art.

“[It’s] artistry, specifically Jason Brown. Jason Brown’s artistry. He’s simply just a work of art.”

This rang true for Vogel at the Lexington Ice Center and Sports Complex, whose ice skating career launched after watching the Winter Olympics in 2018.

“When I watch the Winter Olympics and I watch it live, it’s really scary because there’s this feeling: Are they going to land it? Are they not going to land it? Are we going to get a gold medal?” Vogel said.

Vogel, who is a part of Lexington Skating Academy, was 10-years-old when she started skating.

“Everything in skating is technique. You have to do it a certain way or you won’t pass the moves test or the freestyle test,” said Vogel.

The up-and-coming skater says watching the Olympics inspired her to study every move of the elite competition taking place in Beijing.

“Maybe one day I’ll be in the olympics. Probably not because girls my age are doing double axels. I’ve only got a single,” Vogel said. “Alyssa Lu, when she was 14, she was doing quads.”

The teen figure skater said the ice isn’t just a place for skaters to have fun, it’s also a location that many come to relieve their stress.

“I feel really pretty when I’m skating and I just love it. It’s so smooth and therapeutic,” explains Vogel.

Ben Logan, an instructor at Lexington Ice Center and Sports Complex, knows a thing or two about helping people embrace the sport.

“You just really try to make it fun and also safe. You want them to learn the very basic techniques of just being able to balance, being able to move and explore the ice and have fun with it without having them worry about hurting themselves,” explains Logan.

The veteran ice skater said the Lexington Skating Academy has become a training ground for dozens of experienced and inspiring brand new skaters of all ages.

They currently have 186 skaters currently enrolled in weekly sessions.

“This is huge. I mean, the classes we’ve got right now, I think we’ve got close to 200 kids. I know for my little guys, the tots and penguins classes that I have, these are by far the biggest ones that I’ve had,” added Logan.

The 41-year-old Kentucky native said watching top notch athletes in the world compete during the winter games has inspired people to try it and take part in skating sessions.

Every twist, turn and jump, for Logan, offers more than physical activity. He adds ice skating is a lot like life.

“As instructors we tell our kids all the time, if you fall down that’s okay, it’s alright; you’re learning a lesson by doing that, you’re getting better by doing that,” explains Logan.

The professional coaching staff added that it’s never too late to get started with the sport.

“If you can walk, you can skate as far as I’m concerned. So, no, it doesn’t take anything in particular, just the willingness to try something new,” adds Logan.

Who knows? There could be future Olympians practicing right here in Fayette County.

If you’re interested in Lexington Skating Academy ice skating lessons, click here.