High Level Training, but with a Life

[surimi]

I made this thread because I was so very curious how skaters can have a life when they must, in order to be Olympians, train 6 days a week [in most, not all, cases] 8 to 12 hours a day. Where is family dinner night? Time with the dog, at the nail salon, at a part-time job? Enough time for homework or 2 college credits? [I doubt Nathan or Karen or others have a full load despite the many MANY interviews bringing up Ivy League schools. Let's not forget that the young teens in every country must have homework to do, even with homeschooling].

Take a look at Rika Kihira's average day schedule from early 2020 (start of the off-season for her, I guess): https://twitter.com/rikak_fans/status/1251526993868357655 She was in her peak form, and a top skater, but still had enough time to cook, study, jog, play games with her family, and even read fan mail So, fortunately not every elite skater spends their days immersed in skating.