Mastering the mind games

Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Soerensen, Ice dancing, Canada

Canadian ice dancer Nikolaj Soerensen is familiar with the mental toll an injury can take and says he hopes his recovery can inspire others. After hurting his knee in 2019, Soerensen wasn't able to have surgery because it was the middle of his skating season with partner Laurence Fournier Beaudry. The experience taught him the importance of patience, taking time to heal and resisting the negative emotions that can accompany injury.

"The mind can play a lot of tricks on you when you're injured," Soerensen says.

To avoid getting into a rut, Soerensen and Fournier Beaudry took dance lessons off the ice, with Soerensen sitting in a chair to work his arm movements.