Crowd support

Though her double-discipline dream is on hold for now, Brown says she will again be aiming for gold in both sports at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, a city she considers home.

While she spends most of her time living and training, which includes playing sports with her friends, in San Clemente, California, Brown was born in Japan to a Japanese mother and speaks certain words with a British accent thanks to her English father.

In 2021, Brown, like all athletes, competed at an empty Olympic venue due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which delayed the Games by a year.

Asked what most excites her about the Paris Olympics, Brown replies that it will be having a crowd cheer her on. "I can't wait to skate in front of a crowd, I feel like that will really push me," she says. Only her father was able to support her in Tokyo.

"My mom and my brother didn't get to come to the last Olympics, and I was really bummed about that."

This time will be different though. "I'm definitely really excited to get them to come and have my dad supporting me again, too," adds Brown.

Brown, who has been vocal about inspiring young girls to go after their dreams, says that she will also be looking out for other faces in the crowd.

"I'm definitely keeping an eye out for little girls watching me. Maybe before I take a run, I'll see a little girl and it'll put a fire in my heart to push harder," she says.

Written on the back of her skating helmet is a motto she has been repeating for years: "Be brave, be strong, have fun and do it because you love it."

The precocious teen, who is soon to turn 16, says that she aims to enjoy every minute of competition, and the journey she takes to get there.

Reuters