News
Olympic Dreams Project, what is this new project for synchro?
News
Olympic Dreams Project, what is this new project for synchro?
Priyanka and Sonia, the twin sisters behind the project.
A new project opened this summer. Led by two American synchro skaters, its mission is to develop synchronized skating by supporting skaters worldwide.
Can you first introduce us to what the Olympic Dreams Project consists of?
Priyanka Lucey: The Olympic Dreams Project is an organization dedicated to promoting synchronized skating and the amazing athletes in the sport. Our main goal is to get the sport into the Olympics and increase media coverage and sponsorships for teams. We hope to give skaters the recognition they deserve and fuel excitement surrounding competitions!
Our mission focuses on 3 central pillars: - Mentorship and empowerment - inspiring developing skaters to set ambitious goal, - Advancement of synchro (spreading awareness and increasing appreciation of synchronized skating) and - Community building - bringing skaters from around the world together in support of a common goal.
Priyanka Lucey: The Olympic Dreams Project is an organization dedicated to promoting synchronized skating and the amazing athletes in the sport. Our main goal is to get the sport into the Olympics and increase media coverage and sponsorships for teams. We hope to give skaters the recognition they deserve and fuel excitement surrounding competitions!
Our mission focuses on 3 central pillars: - Mentorship and empowerment - inspiring developing skaters to set ambitious goal, - Advancement of synchro (spreading awareness and increasing appreciation of synchronized skating) and - Community building - bringing skaters from around the world together in support of a common goal.
So far, we have launched a drill of the week series where mentors will share drills and tips for difficult skills for skaters at a variety of levels. These videos will be posted on our Instagram and YouTube channel.
Additionally, we created a mentorship program where young, developing skaters are paired with experienced mentors who help them achieve their goals and succeed in the world of synchro. So far, we have matched over 40 skaters with like-minded mentors, for a total of over 70 participants from 5 countries involved in the program. More information on this program is provided in the answer to question #4.
Additionally, we created a mentorship program where young, developing skaters are paired with experienced mentors who help them achieve their goals and succeed in the world of synchro. So far, we have matched over 40 skaters with like-minded mentors, for a total of over 70 participants from 5 countries involved in the program. More information on this program is provided in the answer to question #4.
Why was it created?
I was frustrated by the lack of media coverage by the ISU, US Figure Skating, and other national governing bodies. Fueled by the decision to reject synchro for the 2026 games (and earlier games) and inspired by the passion and sportsmanship skaters displayed at the 2023 World Championships, I decided to create an organization that promotes this amazing sport and the athletes involved in it with dreams of Olympic inclusion in 2030!
I was inspired by both Jura Synchro and OneTeamMVMT’s work in promoting synchro and uniting skaters from different countries, as well as Get It Called’s informative articles/podcasts and advocacy work within the US synchro community.
I was frustrated by the lack of media coverage by the ISU, US Figure Skating, and other national governing bodies. Fueled by the decision to reject synchro for the 2026 games (and earlier games) and inspired by the passion and sportsmanship skaters displayed at the 2023 World Championships, I decided to create an organization that promotes this amazing sport and the athletes involved in it with dreams of Olympic inclusion in 2030!
I was inspired by both Jura Synchro and OneTeamMVMT’s work in promoting synchro and uniting skaters from different countries, as well as Get It Called’s informative articles/podcasts and advocacy work within the US synchro community.
Who are the people behind this project?
I originally planned to remain anonymous to keep the focus on our organization’s mission and goals. However, we would like to collaborate with more people and host in-person events in the future, which would be very difficult to do anonymously.
My name is Priyanka Lucey and I am the founder of the Olympic Dreams Project. I also have a twin sister named Sonia who helps manage social media. We have both been skating for over 12 years and doing synchro for 8 years. We competed with Madison Ice Diamonds from Beginner through Pre-Juvenile until 2019, when our club created the Wisconsin Inspire Cooperative along with 2 other teams from Southern Wisconsin. Since then, we have competed with Wisconsin Inspire on teams at the Intermediate, Novice, and Junior levels. We’re both seniors in high school, and we both plan to continue synchro in college next year. A fun fact about us is that we play soccer for our high school!
"The skaters are matched with a mentor whose strengths fit the skaters’ goals"I originally planned to remain anonymous to keep the focus on our organization’s mission and goals. However, we would like to collaborate with more people and host in-person events in the future, which would be very difficult to do anonymously.
My name is Priyanka Lucey and I am the founder of the Olympic Dreams Project. I also have a twin sister named Sonia who helps manage social media. We have both been skating for over 12 years and doing synchro for 8 years. We competed with Madison Ice Diamonds from Beginner through Pre-Juvenile until 2019, when our club created the Wisconsin Inspire Cooperative along with 2 other teams from Southern Wisconsin. Since then, we have competed with Wisconsin Inspire on teams at the Intermediate, Novice, and Junior levels. We’re both seniors in high school, and we both plan to continue synchro in college next year. A fun fact about us is that we play soccer for our high school!
You work with mentors. What is their role?
These mentors are part of our mentorship program, in which skaters at the novice level (or international equivalent) and below who are looking for extra motivation and guidance (mentees) are matched with experienced skaters (mentors) at the junior level and above.
Eligible mentees can sign up for the program by filling out a Google form linked in our Instagram bio and on our website. The form asks skaters to share some information about their skating background, specific aspects of synchro they want to work on, and goals they have for the upcoming season and beyond. The skaters are then matched with a mentor whose strengths fit the skaters’ goals.
"Many male skaters request to have male mentors and some skaters want to skate for a certain team in the future"These mentors are part of our mentorship program, in which skaters at the novice level (or international equivalent) and below who are looking for extra motivation and guidance (mentees) are matched with experienced skaters (mentors) at the junior level and above.
Eligible mentees can sign up for the program by filling out a Google form linked in our Instagram bio and on our website. The form asks skaters to share some information about their skating background, specific aspects of synchro they want to work on, and goals they have for the upcoming season and beyond. The skaters are then matched with a mentor whose strengths fit the skaters’ goals.
Additionally, we do take requests for a mentor with specific experiences or traits; for example, many male skaters request to have male mentors and some skaters want to skate for a certain team in the future, so they request a mentor who can speak from their experience on that team. Mentors can also apply by filling out a separate Google form linked in our Instagram bio and on our website. The form is quick and easy to fill out and asks for skating experience, contact information, and strengths.
Once matched, mentors spend time getting to know their mentees and goals. The mentors and mentees communicate with each other via email, text, phone/video call, and videos/photos of progress updates. Each mentorship looks slightly different depending on the mentee's goals and needs.
Many of our mentor-mentee pairs have the mentee take videos of themselves doing a skill at practice and send it to the mentor for feedback as Facetime/video calls on the ice can get very difficult. Mentors can then send videos of themselves giving tips on/demonstrating the skill or showing a new drill for the mentee to try.
Once matched, mentors spend time getting to know their mentees and goals. The mentors and mentees communicate with each other via email, text, phone/video call, and videos/photos of progress updates. Each mentorship looks slightly different depending on the mentee's goals and needs.
Many of our mentor-mentee pairs have the mentee take videos of themselves doing a skill at practice and send it to the mentor for feedback as Facetime/video calls on the ice can get very difficult. Mentors can then send videos of themselves giving tips on/demonstrating the skill or showing a new drill for the mentee to try.
You want synchro to be included in the 2030 Games. After the attempts of previous years, why would this be the right one?
Synchro has progressed a lot since before the pandemic. I believe that the big reason why the application was denied again in 2022 (for the 2026 Olympics) was the pandemic. Synchro was one of the most affected sports during COVID-19, and competitions (and even practices) took a long time to return to normal. Even during the 2021-22 season, many teams could not compete internationally and domestic competition was often limited.
However, the hiatus in connected skating and competitions also gave teams the chance to work more on individual skating skills, and the impact can be clearly seen when looking at skaters the next season. The host country does get to propose new events, and the popularity of the sport in the host country is one of the criteria that is evaluated during the review process for new sports, so the location selected to host will be important.
While 2026 was not the right year, I strongly believe that the development over the past few seasons, coupled with the popularity of the sport in Canada and the US (two of the three frontrunners in the race to host the 2030 Winter Olympics) make a very strong case for 2030 Olympic inclusion. Synchro is gaining popularity quickly in Japan too, which could be key if Sapporo is the host.
Synchro has progressed a lot since before the pandemic. I believe that the big reason why the application was denied again in 2022 (for the 2026 Olympics) was the pandemic. Synchro was one of the most affected sports during COVID-19, and competitions (and even practices) took a long time to return to normal. Even during the 2021-22 season, many teams could not compete internationally and domestic competition was often limited.
However, the hiatus in connected skating and competitions also gave teams the chance to work more on individual skating skills, and the impact can be clearly seen when looking at skaters the next season. The host country does get to propose new events, and the popularity of the sport in the host country is one of the criteria that is evaluated during the review process for new sports, so the location selected to host will be important.
While 2026 was not the right year, I strongly believe that the development over the past few seasons, coupled with the popularity of the sport in Canada and the US (two of the three frontrunners in the race to host the 2030 Winter Olympics) make a very strong case for 2030 Olympic inclusion. Synchro is gaining popularity quickly in Japan too, which could be key if Sapporo is the host.
What do you think is missing for synchro to become Olympic?
We are not experts on Olympic inclusion guidelines, however, according to the evaluation criteria set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), attendance and media coverage at the World Championships, potential cost and revenue, as well as the universality of the sport are heavily weighed when considering applications for inclusion in the Olympic program.
For synchro to gain Olympic status in 2030, turnout (in person and TV viewers) at the 2024, 2025, and 2026 World Championships must be very high and many countries must be represented (in the event and the top 5 to 10 teams).
What does it mean to you that synchronized skating will one day become an Olympic discipline?
I would love to see synchronized skating in the Olympics because the recognition and increased popularity that comes with being an Olympic sport would challenge teams to keep pushing boundaries and help increase diversity and accessibility. Synchronized skaters at the top levels train just as much (and sometimes even more) than Olympic skaters in other disciplines.
Not only would Olympic inclusion give so many skaters their well-deserved recognition, but it would also make the sport overall more accessible to middle- and low-income families due to increased sponsorships and popularity.
We are not experts on Olympic inclusion guidelines, however, according to the evaluation criteria set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), attendance and media coverage at the World Championships, potential cost and revenue, as well as the universality of the sport are heavily weighed when considering applications for inclusion in the Olympic program.
For synchro to gain Olympic status in 2030, turnout (in person and TV viewers) at the 2024, 2025, and 2026 World Championships must be very high and many countries must be represented (in the event and the top 5 to 10 teams).
What does it mean to you that synchronized skating will one day become an Olympic discipline?
I would love to see synchronized skating in the Olympics because the recognition and increased popularity that comes with being an Olympic sport would challenge teams to keep pushing boundaries and help increase diversity and accessibility. Synchronized skaters at the top levels train just as much (and sometimes even more) than Olympic skaters in other disciplines.
Not only would Olympic inclusion give so many skaters their well-deserved recognition, but it would also make the sport overall more accessible to middle- and low-income families due to increased sponsorships and popularity.
Concretely, what are your projects in the coming months?
We want to continue to expand our existing mentorship program to get more coaches involved as well as create a blog about competitions, host a series of open Q&A sessions with mentors, start featuring teams using team spotlights, and introduce a scholarship program to help skaters who can’t afford skating training, equipment, or competition expenses.
In the long run, we hope to host camps and meetup events at competitions for skaters from around the country/world to make friends!
We want to continue to expand our existing mentorship program to get more coaches involved as well as create a blog about competitions, host a series of open Q&A sessions with mentors, start featuring teams using team spotlights, and introduce a scholarship program to help skaters who can’t afford skating training, equipment, or competition expenses.
In the long run, we hope to host camps and meetup events at competitions for skaters from around the country/world to make friends!
