In potential swan song, U.S. figure skater Jason Brown vows to do things his way

Jason Brown taking his bows after personal best short program. (Screenshot from NBC)

Jason Brown is a skater for an earlier time, the one before multiple quadruple jumps became necessary to win medals at major international competitions.

And yet Brown still is a skater for all time, one who has created indelible impressions from the entirety of his programs rather than from instants of outstanding athleticism provided by the revolutionary jumps.

"I have utmost respect for what those guys are doing to push the sport technically," he said this week in China. "I’m just in absolute awe, and I wish I could be one of them as well. But I am going to push the sport in my way."

That is through performances like the one Brown gave Tuesday in the short program at the 2022 Winter Olympics. His four jumps simply were part of a seamless, compelling expression of a traditional Black spiritual, "Sinnerman," as sung by Nina Simone and choreographed by Rohene Ward with references to what Alvin Ailey created for his landmark ballet, "Revelations."

An Ailey dancer once described "Sinnerman" as "showing physicality and technique, but also emotional expression while really dancing and communicating with the audience."

Brown did all of that on the ice, with gestures large and small. He beseeched and implored as a fearful sinner awaiting the final judgment. His arms reached out in hope. He went down on bent knees. He used captivating skating movements like the split jump, with airborne legs stretched parallel to the ice, and near ecstatic twizzle turns, arms set at a 90-degree bend at the elbow. He did the four triple jumps with grace and ease and flow.

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