The carbon fiber of a blade glides against the floor of the rink as Jesse Zhong (10) plants his left toe on the ice before jumping backwards into mid-air. His coaches and teammates hold their breath, watching as he completes three full rotations in the air. His feet touch the ground and continue to glide; Zhong has just landed a triple lutz plus triple toe, one of the highest scoring elements and hardest jump combinations.
Zhong represented Team U.S.A. at several international competitions and took gold at the 2025 Denver Cup International. In order to compete at the national level, he trains year-round. His skating journey is characterized by the intensity of his daily routine.
“I train about six days a week for two hours a day, and some days I also do some conditioning off the ice for 30 minutes to an hour,” Zhong said.
Zhong’s training focuses on technique. After leaving campus at 1 p.m., depending on the day, Zhong will either head to the Lakewood Ice Rink to perfect programs with his coach or go to the rink at University City Town Center for independent practice. Getting home between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Zhong uses the last moments of daylight for homework and socializing with friends. His skating journey began eight years ago.
“I started skating when I was 8, when my mom signed me up for Learn To Skate,” Zhong said. “I was immediately captivated by the combination of power and grace in skating, which led me to pursue the sport full-time.”
Fellow skaters follow his example.
“To have somebody like Jesse to train with is one of the greatest privileges I hope people can experience,” August Perthus, a skater at Lakewood Ice, said. “He consistently pushed me to be a skater, whenever we train together, on or off the ice.”
He became a two-time Pacific Coast Selectional Champion, three-time member of the U.S. National Development Team — which consists of the top developing athletes in the nation — and a 2026 competitor in the U.S. Prevagen National Championships, where he made his debut amongst Olympic-level skaters and Olympians like Ilia Malinin, Andrew Torgashev, Amber Glenn and Alyssa Liu.
“It wasn’t the best debut,” Zhong said. “Being surrounded by the top junior skaters in the country made me extremely nervous, which led to two disappointing performances.”
Despite not meeting his own standards, Zhong found the silver lining of the opportunity.
“Nationals was still an exciting and memorable experience,” Zhong said. “I was able to reunite with friends from across the country, and we all had the opportunity to watch the Olympic team selection firsthand, which was inspiring.”
Perthus said that seeing Zhong succeed as a skater brings him “an immense amount of pride.”
“Seeing his work pay off with him winning sectionals and attending nationals makes me incredibly proud,” Perthus said.
One challenge Zhong faced was a case of pneumonia that prevented him from skating.
“[It] took me out of the sport for about a month,” Zhong said. “When I returned, it took me a couple of months to return to my peak form, which ultimately made me unprepared for sectionals that year.”
Months away from the sport was not enough to knock him down.
“He seems fearless, which is an incredible trait that helps others like me,” Perthus said.
The experience was another way for Zhong to build mental strength. After, he landed triple lutz plus triple toe combinations and a spot at nationals.
“My future goal for skating is to qualify for senior nationals and represent Team U.S.A. at a senior international competition,” Zhong said.
Zhong’s appreciation for the sport goes beyond the titles and awards. The lessons he learns, he applies to his life on and off the rink.
“One of my favorite aspects of skating is how it allows me to clear my mind during stressful periods of life,” Zhong said. “The challenges I have faced in skating have taught me discipline and resilience, and I consistently apply both outside the rink as well.”
