Wingspan: What inspired you to start figure skating?

Boutouis: “My friend asked me to go ice skating with her for fun, and I had so much fun. Afterwards, I asked my mom to enroll me in classes, and it just stuck with me. Also, I enjoyed watching figure skating on the Olympics.”

Wingspan: What keeps you motivated to stay in skating?

Boutouis: “Figure skating is not like tennis or volleyball. In sports like that, it feels like the same thing over and over again to me: you hit the ball and return it. In figure skating, everything is different. Different programs, different jumps, different spins, you name it. You can never just be ‘good enough.’ There’s just always new things to learn, and I like that aspect of it.”

Wingspan: What is the most difficult thing about figure skating?

Boutouis: “The most difficult thing about figure skating is the starting process. You first have to learn how to skate gracefully with what it feels like two knives strapped on your feet.”

Wingspan: What is the biggest benefit of being in figure skating?

Boutouis: “One of the biggest benefits of being in figure skating is the social aspect. Most of my good friends are people I’ve met from skating.”

Wingspan: What’s it’s like being on a team?

Boutouis: “Being on a synchronized figure skating team means that you have to think as one. My team is like a family to me.”

Wingspan: What pumps you up/motivates you before competitions/shows?

Boutouis: “Being with my teammates motivates me before competitions and shows. It’s always so fun to be together with my team doing hair and makeup.”

Wingspan: What is your pre-game ritual?

Boutouis: “Before competitions and shows, I always walk through the program(s) with my team. We work out any problems that have been happening in the programs. We then change into our costumes and do hair and makeup. My coach will then give us a little pep talk, along with my teammates.”