Player's Own Voice

Player's Own Voice podcast: Kirsten Moore-Towers on the leading edge

The Player's Own Voice podcast speaks with pairs skater Kirsten Moore-Towers, one of the last remaining athletes from Canada's golden generation.

Pairs skater hopes to leave legacy of changed figure skating culture

Canada's Kirsten Moore-Towers reacts after her performance with partner Michael Marinaro in the pairs free skate figure skating final in the Gangneung Ice Arena at the 2018 Winter Olympics. (Bernat Armangue/The Associated Press)

The 2019 Skate Canada Grand Prix underscores the new normal on the national figure skating scene. Today's skaters are younger, and to the casual fan, less familiar than the stars of recent vintage.

But there's one exception: Kirsten Moore-Towers. The reigning Canadian pairs champion is keenly aware that she is one of the last remaining from her star-studded generation. Does that make her wistful? Not at all. For 'KMT,' it's all about being grateful to still be at the apex of her sport, and still loving the competition.

Moore-Towers joins Anastasia Bucsis, host of the Player's Own Voice podcast, to talk about the maturing athlete's changing relationships with coaches and partners. Moore-Towers is a fierce competitor on the ice, and a constantly thinking athlete the rest of the time. She has a growing desire to help shape the sometimes unhealthy body image (and eating disorder-prone) culture of her sport.

At 27, the veteran has a plan to leave her sport better than when she found it.

Like the CBC Sports' Player's Own Voice essay series, the POV podcast lets athletes speak to Canadians about issues from a personal perspective. To listen to Kirsten Moore-Towers  and earlier guests this season, from figure skating and beyond, subscribe for free on iTunes, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Tune In or wherever you get your other podcasts.