Jimmy Ma, 28, ended last season brilliantly with a career-high 5th place at the 2023 U.S. Figure Skating Championships and a small medal at 2023 ISU Four Continents Championships, where he placed third in the short program.
This season, however, was another story entirely. Ma struggled this past fall, placing a disappointing 9th and 11th at his two Grand Prix events, Cup of China and GP Espoo in Finland.
But he turned it around this past weekend at the 2024 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Columbus, OH. Ma started the competition with another 9th place in the short program. However, he stormed back in the long program, landing a quad toe loop, two triple Axels, and more to earn 162.03 for his free skate. Ma pulled up to 6th in the free skate and overall, and ended his season on a high note. He was inspired by his new Phantom of the Opera long program, created by longtime choreographer Nikolai Morozov. Ma spoke with reporters after his redemptive performance.
Q: Can you talk about your skate today?
Ma: Overall, I’m very happy. This is more along the lines of what I am as a skater. There’s still a lot more that I could have shown. But this is a better representation of who I am as a skater, and what I’m capable of, compared to other performances this year.
Q: Did you switch up your free skate?
Ma: I did. A month ago.
Q: What was the reasoning?
Ma: At Champs Camp, Nikolai was already like: “You need to change music. The music is too dark for you. It doesn’t highlight your skating. Yes, if you do three quads, of course it’s going to be good. But we need something to highlight your skating.” [Ma’s previous free skate was set to Apashe’s “Lacrimosa.”]
I agreed about it. But I never had the chance to go to him, because the season was well on its way. And after the performances in China and Finland, I called him. He called me back right when I landed home from Finland. He was like: “I told you!” And I’m like: “I never said you were wrong!”
Then I went to see him for a week. It’s always good to go back to my roots a little bit. I respect him a lot, and his opinions. He told me [to do] Phantom of the Opera. And I was hella skeptical, because nobody expects me to skate to Phantom. But when we did [tried] it, I was like, “Okay, [forget] La La Land and all the stuff [ideas] that I had given to him. Okay, you’re right–Phantom. This is a Swan Lake all over again. [Ma’s successful 2021-23 Black Swan short program.] I’m just going to listen to you. Let’s go.”
Q: You said something, out on the ice, after your skate today. What was it?
Ma: I can’t say. I’ve been trying to hold down a lot of emotion. I’ve been trying to keep a level head and a level heart throughout this whole season. Trying to tame myself. But in these kinds of skates and these kinds of music, you have to let the floodgates open. So, after finishing that–and it was a good program–I just said things that should not be said in an interview. They’ve trained me for this. [Gestured with a smile to U.S. Figure Skating staff.]
Q: You lay on the ground on the ice at the end. Were you just tired, or emotional?
Ma: Yes, I was tired. After Finland, I had the score of 111.07 points tattooed in my brain, for the past two months. [His 11th-place free skate score at GP Espoo.] No, no. I knew I was a much more capable skater than 111.07 points. Miss Olga [Ganicheva, his coach] told me to go talk to my therapist. She’s like: “Jimmy, this is not healthy for you.” But I’m like: “I just have to remind myself every day.” After that, I tried to remind myself in a healthier way.
I wanted to show people that I’m not 111 points. And to be able to put [a program] out like that this afternoon, reassured me a little bit. Nationals is the highest-pressure, the most stimulating, along with being the most supportive, competition. If I could do it here, then I’ve reassured myself that I’m not that kind of skater.
Q: Glad you had a good showing here in the free skate. Are we going to see you again next year at Nationals?
Ma: Ahhh. There’s always this question. Let me tell you this, though. After every–no, during every–competition, I’ve quit, in the past couple of years. I’ve quit at … that weight. I’m like: “I can’t take this any more, I can’t take this any more, I want to move on with my life.” But the thing is, though–this week? They say you can’t beat Father Time … but I’ve felt the best I’ve ever felt my whole entire life. And I’m already neck deep. I have two more years left. I’m going to stick through to it [2026 Olympics]. No matter how many times I tell you I’m going to quit … I’m going to stick through.