Ege Ergazi - ISU Adult International’26 Oberstdorf - Silver Women I Free Skate - 6th place

Caruso has been such a meaningful part of my figure skating journey, and I truly loved skating to it throughout the years. Whenever I performed to it, it never felt like merely a piece of music, but rather a companion that embraced the fragments within me with warmth, allowing me to freely and fiercely express all the delicacy I carry inside. This performance marked my final time skating to this beautiful music. I was also amazed by how resilient the human body and mind can be, as I delivered a clean program with ease during the practice right after what was perhaps one of the most difficult trips of my life. I had wished to say goodbye to this program with a cleaner skate, as there were moments when I could not fully deliver what I know I am capable of. Still, I wholeheartedly embraced everything this program brought into my life — the emotions, the growth, the passion, and the memories. There have been so many different stories and feelings throughout the years, but after skating to Caruso this final time, all I felt was the calmest joy, and pure love for this sport. All the incredible fellow skaters and amazing people I met through this competition truly took me somewhere beyond this planet. I cannot wait to reunite with them at future events, and I cannot keep the brand new skater I discovered within myself away from the competition ice for so long — it has always been about so much more than competing.