But it was nine

... like, it's pretty normal, but it was nine.

And so they were like, "I think you might need to see a specialist," so then I'm searching around looking for a specialist, and it's funny, like, one of our, our Canada orthopedic surgeons that traveled with the team, he's the one who actually, um, got me connected to my doctor.

And she's like, "Okay, I, I've seen your ultrasound.

I want you to come in and have, like, a more intense ultrasound."

Yeah.

Like, no makeup.

It's way more casual.

What does that mean?

Like, to be not hard on myself for being, I guess, sick 'cause it, it wasn't my, it wasn't my choice.

It just was my body.

So I had to kinda just be like, well, this, a- all, all I can do is just try to figure out how either is, does this run in my family? Like, I was like, "All right, sisters, like, you go all get checked, do all these things." So I just felt like I became more proactive and I didn't feel guilty for being ill, and I was just like, okay, this is, this is it.

You know? Like, we know the other end.

You know? I'm not, I'm not gonna die.

You know? Like, I know, I'm, I know that.

Will it come back?

Yeah

... skate with our other Canadian teammates and- Kind of like work together to create a big show instead of working individually to, you g- s- appease the judges.

... across the country, even though it's not a competition, do you still, is there, like, friendly competition between you when it comes to putting routines together, when you're performing in front of a crowd?

I mean, for us, I th- I think Paul and I, we are competitive.

We wanna make sure that, like, our numbers do stand out and people get the opportunity to see something that we wouldn't do-

What was that like?

It was actually quite an interesting experience.

I don't think...

Um, we were ever at that point where like, oh, my God, these guys cannot come today.

I can't stand the film crew.

You know, like they were totally opposite of what we expected.

I think we were a little hesitant when they approached this idea because we're like, what is this going to look like? You know, in the moment when we started filming at the World Championships in Boston, we met the team and we're like, OK, like these guys know what they're doing.

I know this is a big question, but if you were to look back at the past 20 years of things that you've done as ice dancers that you loved or didn't like, what would you bring back? What would you change? What would you think about as something that you're like, yeah, we're definitely missing this stuff in ice dance?

What was it like knowing that this may be sort of like the last time that you guys do this together on this sort of stage and coming out on the podium?

I mean, I think it was, I don't know.

I put into words, especially now, because it's still so fresh, but I think, you know, our journey has been filled with so many highs and some pretty big blows, but to be able to like feel completely connected with the moment and connected with each other and to be able to stand on the Olympic ice.

And we literally had everybody on their feet.

And that's something that like all athletes and figure skaters dream of is having that moment when people aren't even sitting there weeping and cheering and crying and we were doing the exact same thing and and to be able to truly experience something like that especially at the end of our career um is so so special but you know we haven't really said we're done skating yet but I know that will be the last time we'll step out on Olympic ice for sure yeah

Like how what goes through your mind every single day you wake up and you're like, oh, my God, here's where I am and here's what I'm doing.

Yeah, I mean, I just it's funny.

I think when you have something like that, it totally changes your perspective on life.

Who, who, who are you skating for?

Um, I feel like it's changed over the years.

I think when I was younger, you know, I was, I was skating for myself.

Then when my mom had passed, I felt like I was kinda skating in her honor.

But as the years have gone on, I feel like we're so connected with our support group, our, our family, our friends, Canada.

I think this medal feels like it's Canadians' medal, and I think that's what's been so fun is Paul and I have gone around Milan and we're like, "You wanna hold it? You wanna touch it?" And what's so unique about the medal, it's like it's shaped, both halves are separated as like half the medal is yours and half, it's the medal of your support group and your family members and your country.

And I think that's such a, uh, I don't... such a, I don't, I don't even know how to...

And you have, like, what? This fake medal or some sort of medal around your neck? [laughs]

Like how what goes through your mind every single day you wake up and you're like, oh, my God, here's where I am and here's what I'm doing.

Yeah, I mean, I just it's funny.

I think when you have something like that, it totally changes your perspective on life.

You know, anytime I got the opportunity to like show up and go to the rink, you know, I had to kind of be like, wow, this is just a blessing just to be able to move my body in any way.

But, you know, it was amazing.

I had such a great team.

You know, I had a great partner like Paul that supported me along the way.

Were you guys talking about that?

Who, who, who are you skating for?

Um, I feel like it's changed over the years.

I think when I was younger, you know, I was, I was skating for myself.

Then when my mom had passed, I felt like I was kind of skating in her honor.

But as the years have gone on, I feel like we're so connected with our support group, our, our family, our friends, Canada.

I think this medal feels like it's Canadians' medal, and I think that's what's been so fun is Paul and I have gone around Milan and we're like, "You wanna hold it? You wanna touch it?" And what's so unique about the medal, it's like it's shaped, both halves are separated as, like, half the medal is yours and half it's the medal of your support group and your family members and your country, and I think that's such a, uh, I don't...

such a, I don't, I don't even know how to-

And you have, like, what? This fake medal or some sort of medal around your neck?