Ashley Wagner will compete in this week’s U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Greensboro, N.C. A 19-year-old from Alexandria, Wagner (read more)

By Alexa Ainsworth, Universal Sports

Ashley Wagner finished third at 2010 U.S. Nationals, which in an Olympic year, was also the trials. With only two U.S. ladies entries for the Vancouver Games, Wagner’s Olympic dream was just out of reach. She talked with us about moving on from that experience.

What positives and negatives did you take away from the Olympic season?

I think overall it was a great season for me. I qualified for the Grand Prix Final and I was the only U.S. lady to do, which was a huge accomplishment.

Honestly, Nationals was a great competition for me also. With the exception of the Lutz and a couple of tiny mistakes in the long program, I did come away extremely satisfied with what I had put out. The reason why I’m okay with not making the Olympic Team was because I didn’t leave anything out on the table.

Obviously as an athlete the Olympics is the best of the best. It’s one of the greatest achievements you can ever have and I missed it by that much, so it will haunt me for the rest of my life obviously, but I’ve kind of made peace with the fact I didn’t make it and I can move on now. (read more)

U.S. Figure Skating, SKATING MAGAZINE

Featured as the cover story in U.S. Figure Skating’s Skating Magazine June/July issue, Ashley Wagner talks about how her love for the sport keeps her focused.

‘I Love Skating Again’

Sometimes, your toughest challenge brings a new perspective. Take Ashley Wagner, who just missed making the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team but rekindled her passion for the sport in the process.

“I learned why I love to skate, and I didn’t realize I had lost that for so long,” the U.S. bronze medalist said thoughtfully.

“It was so refreshing to get off the ice and realize I had had fun with it.”

Read about Ashley Wagner’s new-found love for figure skating in the June/July issue of SKATING. (read more)

ESPN/The Associated Press

Nagano, Japan — Ashley Wagner of the United States finished first in the women’s short program at the NHK Trophy on Friday, edging Miki Ando of Japan.

Wagner opened with a triple flip, double toe loop in a routine to the soundtrack from “Once Upon a Time in America.”

In the women’s free skate on Saturday, November 7, Wagner was out-skated by Miki Ando of Japan. Wagner took a third place finish overall.

Wagner, who finished second in the Rostelecom Cup, is bidding for a place in the Grand Prix final, which will be held Dec. 3-6 in Tokyo. (read more)