If there's one thing theatre fans and sports fans can agree on, it's Hamilton. With a protagonist set on achieving his dreams no matter what setbacks he's faced with, Lin-Manuel Miranda's hit musical has a plot line any Olympian or Paralympian must be able to relate to. But Hamilton isn't the only musical inspiring athletes at the 2022 winter games.
Find out which other show tunes have made it onto Olympian and Paralympian's pump-up playlists below:
Paralympic Skier Oksana Masters: “I love ‘My Shot’ from Hamilton. It reminds me that nothing is given to you and that each competition is an opportunity to prove to myself that anything is possible if you put in the work.”
Ice Dancer Kaitlin Hawayek: “One of my favorite songs to listen to is ‘Your Song’ from Moulin Rouge. There is so much passion in the singer’s voice, and it reminds me to feel grateful for the moments that Jean-Luc and I get to have together on the ice and to soak in the moment!”
Figure Skater Jason Brown: “‘My Shot’ from Hamilton. Hamilton is such an iconic, American musical, so not only does it have that patriotic vibe, but the message of the song is also about harnessing the feeling of going after what you want and not being afraid, always being hungry for more, and wanting to make the most of each moment, which is really inspiring!”
Paralympic Skier Dani Aravich: “The Music Man has been one of my favorite musicals since I was a little kid. I actually sang ‘Gary, Indiana’ as an audition song when I was in a musical in fourth grade. I love ‘Ya Got Trouble/Seventy-Six Trombones’ because the beat and energy gets me hype.”
Figure Skaters Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc: “Our pump-up song is ‘My Shot’ from the musical Hamilton, and what better explanation than these words: ‘I am not throwin’ away my shot/I am not throwin’ away my shot/Hey yo, I’m just like my country/I’m young, scrappy, and hungry/And I’m not throwin’ away my shot.’ Ashley and I are on this Olympic team because we seized the moment and made the most with our shot to make the team.”
