Former Figure Skater Turned Cameraman

[skatedreamer]

The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics figure skating competition left us some memorable moments, such as Alysa Liu’s now-iconic performance that won her the gold medal. But it was the keen eye of on-ice cameraman Jordan Cowan who captured some of these scenes. A former figure skater, he has uniquely insightful shots of the competitors’ most vulnerable moments.

Ice Skating Cameraman Uses Former Figure Skating Experience To Capture the Sport Like No Other

One of his biggest tricks? Skating backward with a custom-built camera rig.

mymodernmet.com

 

[Mathman]

"A lifelong fan of moviemaking, he also works with a camera rig he designed and built himself. This allows him to incorporate manual focus and zoom, techniques used more commonly in film sets than in sporting competitions, to bring movie storytelling into these nail-biting competitions."

By the way, Jordan Cowan's competitive ice dance partner, local Michigander Anastasia Olson, went on to skate for many years in starring roles for Disney on Ice. She made the news (in a sad way) a couple of years ago when she suffered a terrible fall as Belle in Beauty and the Beast resulting in serious head injury.

I tried to find out what her current status is. Does anyone know? @Ic3Rabbit ? She is listed on the Disney on Ice website as a principal skater in the 2026 cast of Magic in the Stars, but I don't know if this is up to date.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

"A lifelong fan of moviemaking, he also works with a camera rig he designed and built himself. This allows him to incorporate manual focus and zoom, techniques used more commonly in film sets than in sporting competitions, to bring movie storytelling into these nail-biting competitions."

By the way, Jordan Cowan's competitive ice dance partner, local Michigander Anastasia Olson, went on to skate for many years in starring roles for Disney on Ice. She made the news (in a sad way) a couple of years ago when she suffered a terrible fall as Belle in Beauty and the Beast resulting in serious head injury.

I tried to find out what her current status is. Does anyone know? @Ic3Rabbit ? She is listed on the Disney on Ice website as a principal skater in the 2026 cast of Magic in the Stars, but I don't know if this is up to date.

She's back to touring with Disney on Ice. She finished a tour in the Autumn of 2025. IDK if she's on a new one or not yet for the year.

 

[moonvine]

She's back to touring with Disney on Ice. She finished a tour in the Autumn of 2025. IDK if she's on a new one or not yet for the year.

I’m glad to hear she is well.