Former U.S. figure skater Jordan Cowan has become the first cameraman in Olympic history to work on the ice during a figure skating competition. At the 2026 Winter Olympics, he will skate alongside the athletes, capturing the emotional moments that traditional overhead or sideline cameras don’t capture.
Cowan only steps out on the ice after performances. He tries to remain inconspicuous while filming the athletes’ first reactions, whether joyous or disappointed, up close. The footage is broadcast worldwide.
The emotions were especially intense after Ilya Malinin’s performances. The 21-year-old athlete happily punched Cowan’s camera after a brilliant performance in the team free skate, sharing his joy and helping the U.S. team win the gold medal. However, after a failed performance in the individual competition, the cameraman kept his distance as Malinin collapsed on the ice in frustration.
While on-ice cameras have long been used in speed skating and hockey, the approach is new to figure skating. Cowan retired from competitive skating in 2011 and has since focused on dance projects, aiming to make figure skating more accessible and engaging to a wider audience.
She specifically trains in Pilates and yoga to keep up with the athletes’ pace. She uses her own lightweight, stable equipment, which allows her to maintain her balance even in strong winds. In addition to competing, Cowan is also on the ice for medal ceremonies and the final gala, continuing to convey the emotional atmosphere that usually remains behind the scenes.
