But that’s just the latest moment in Adams’ career behind the curtains of ice skating.
Adams’ career with the sport began in the 1990s, when she was a figure skating researcher and television producer for sports media outlets, including NBC and ESPN.
She was born in the former Soviet Union and immigrated with her family to California when she was 7 years old, and her background speaking Russian helped her.
The job took her everywhere.
“The thing about figure skating is that it takes place all over the world," Adams said. "I loved traveling to far-away locations like Nagano, Japan, for the 1998 Olympics, Switzerland for the World Championships. Heck, even Rhode Island and Florida for professional skating shows was fun.”
Behind the scenes, she saw every storyline imaginable unfold from the drama of Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding to watching as a 15-year-old Michelle Kwan learned she had won her first World Championship in 1996 — a moment Adams recalls as one of her favorites.
Adam said moments like the Kerrigan attack didn't seem as large stories when they originally happened.
“I was in Detroit in 1994 when Nancy got hit on the knee, and while we were all aware of it, we never imagined it would blow up into the international phenomenon that it did,” Adams said. “And yes, we were all joking, ‘Maybe Tonya Harding did it.’ But, we didn’t mean it!”
The Olympics, from behind the TV cameras, isn’t as poetic or as perfectly executed as a figure skating routine. Adams recalls those days as something like a “madhouse.”
More behind the scenes scoop, plus how you can Push Dick's Button at: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865595900/Writer-went-from-chaperone-to-assisting-with-NBCs-figure-skating-broadcasts.html?pg=1
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