Jason Brown’s career has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows, but nothing prepared him for the uncertainty that followed his remarkable performance at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. After setting a personal best and improving on his debut performance from Sochi 2014, Brown was left wondering what was next. “I don’t have an answer to what is next, so that’s a little bit of a first for me,” he admitted in the aftermath. With the pursuit of another Olympic medal seemingly behind him, Brown opted to step away from the competition circuit and focus on performing in 100 skating shows, taking a break from the grind of rigorous training and competition.

Undeterred, Brown found a way to keep going. He even changed to a different boot manufacturer. After missing two competitions leading up to worlds at Boston, what followed this up was a gutsy performance at the 2025 ISU World Championships, where despite battling technical challenges and under-rotations, he landed his first triple Axel of the season with a score of 84.72 and salvaged a shaky triple-triple combo. Now, with 2026 Winter Olympics on the horizon, Brown is reflecting on the tough decisions ahead.

As Brown continued his pursuit of excellence, his goals began to clash. He and his team worked tirelessly to resolve his persistent equipment issues, which affected his results on the ice. Facing disappointing 8th and 7th place finishes at his two Grand Prix events, Skate Canada and NHK Trophy, respectively. “It took the entire season to figure out these equipment issues, which isn’t ideal,” Brown admitted with a smile.

For those who follow the sport closely, the difficulty of dealing with equipment problems is well-known. While the issues took longer than Brown and his team would have liked to resolve, they ultimately provided a newfound sense of clarity. “It makes me that much more excited and relieved moving forward, knowing, ‘OK, [this Worlds was] kind of a starting point’,” Brown reflected. The challenge of battling technical problems was never far from Brown’s mind, but it became clear that resolving them was the key to his future success.

Brown’s performance in Boston gave him the spark he needed. “I can’t wait to get more and more comfortable with this new normal. And it makes me that much more excited about the months and the year ahead.” With this renewed confidence, Brown is eager to embrace the future and continue his path toward the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Overcoming doubts and defying expectations

Jason Brown’s journey to the 2025 World Championships sparked some skepticism when he withdrew from the U.S. Championships, leaving critics to question his readiness. However, he quickly silenced those doubts by passing the “return to play” protocol, showing that he was more than prepared to compete at the highest level. So, how did he handle the pressure and nerves when it truly mattered? Brown was ready to rise to the occasion.

Jason Brown faced criticism before, but he proved his worth time and again. In an X post, Brown confidently addressed the critics. “This is my 3rd Worlds in a pre-Olympic year. I’ve always delivered.” And true to his words, Brown has consistently stepped up when it mattered most. His comeback at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, where he finished sixth, may not have resulted in a medal, but it reinforced that he wasn’t finished yet. “I had three goals when I moved to Toronto, and I was fortunate enough to have checked them all off,” he said, marking that performance as one of his proudest achievements.

However, the path forward was not without its challenges. Brown and his coach devised a new four-year plan. Leading into the 2026 Olympics, focusing on fewer competitions, more show skating, and maintaining mental freshness. This strategy was meant to keep him competitive as he approached 31. But things took an unexpected turn when his triple Axel, a historically difficult element, became a persistent struggle. At times, Brown questioned with Tracy, wondering if his career was nearing its end. But February 3rd marked a pivotal shift. And now Brown has his sights firmly on Milan Cortina 2026, ready to defy the odds once again.