WATCH: Olympic Team Gold Medalists and U.S. Champions Danny O’Shea and Ellie Kam Talk with Steve Wilson
By Steve Wilson // March 16, 2026
O’Shea, Kam will be appear at Stars on Ice at Kia Center in Orlando on April 18
WATCH: Steve Wilson recently had the opportunity to talk with 2026 Olympic Team Gold Medalists and U.S. Champions Danny O’Shea and Ellie Kam. Both will be appearing, along with other U.S. figure skating stars, at the Stars on Ice program at the Kia Center in Orlando on Saturday April 18, 2026. To purchase tickets, CLICK HERE.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – I recently had the opportunity to talk with 2026 Olympic Team Gold Medalists and U.S. Champions Danny O’Shea and Ellie Kam. Both will be appearing, along with other U.S. figure skating stars, at the Stars on Ice program at the Kia Center in Orlando on Saturday April 18, 2026.
O’Shea and Kam have been skating partners for a little more than three years, which is a relatively short period of time for pairs skaters. I asked them both about how their partnership came about, and O’Shea said, “It’s kind of an awesome story!” After competing for several years, O’Shea stepped away from the competitive side of the sport, but was still coaching at the rink.
When Kam and her former partner decided to no longer skate together, O’Shea was asked to work with her to help her get over the breakup. O’Shea’s answer to that was, “Actually, I don’t think I want to coach her, I would like to have a tryout with her!”
Kam told me there is normally a period of time when potential partners work together to see if they are compatible. She said, “As far as the tryout, we didn’t really need one. We just kind of jumped into it.” She went on to say, “We skated together for maybe two days, and we were like, okay, time to start choreographing a program and trying to compete this season.”
Even prior to their gold medal performance at the Olympics, they have been successful. Among their many top three performances, they finished #1 at the 2022 Ice Challenge, 2023 CS Finlandia Trophy, 2024 CS John Nicks Pairs Competition, and 2024 U.S. Championships.
I asked Kam about the pressure of performing at the Olympics. She said the key is, “It’s just about enjoying what we do, loving what we do. We have something we want to share with other people.” She smiled and added, “Having a partner there definitely helps the nerves for sure.”
O’Shea told me, “When you are trying to perform at that highest level, it requires a lot of trust in yourself and your partner.” It is obvious they trust each other.
I asked them both about the feeling they had when stepping on the podium to receive their gold medal. Kam told me, “As an athlete I always dreamed of representing the U.S. I feel so proud to represent our country.”
O’Shea answered by saying that he felt, “so much pride in ourselves, in our teammates, so much pride in all of the hard work we put in for countless years.” He also acknowledged, with gratitude, the support they received from their parents and loved ones. O’Shea added, “It was an overwhelming moment, and I don’t think either one of us will ever forget.”
Now it is off to Stars on Ice. Neither O’Shea nor Kam has ever participated in Stars on Ice, and they are both incredibly excited to be a part of such a premier skating program. This is different than competitive skating. O’Shea describes it as a show where, “the skaters get to let loose a little bit. There is no scoring, so we get to do all of the parts of skating that make us the most happy and bring us the most joy.”
When talking about the public turning out to watch Stars on Ice, Kam told me that “It’s way more personal to watch skating in person.” She went on to say, “Shows (like Stars on Ice) are way more relaxed.” O’Shea said, “You get to see the personalities come out even more.” And, I completely agree. I have done both and there is nothing like watching professional figure skaters in person.
Danny O’Shea and Ellie Kam are the best of the best. They are U.S. National Champions and Olympic Team Gold Medalists. And it did not take me long to determine that they are champions off the ice. They are both incredibly nice people, and I, for one, can’t wait to see what the future holds for them both. The sky is the limit!
For tickets to Stars on Ice, CLICK HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Steve Wilson was born in DeRidder, Louisiana and grew up in both New Orleans and Macon, Georgia. He moved to Brevard County in 1984 and retired from local government as the Community Advocate/Assistant to the City Manager with the City of Rockledge in 2018.
Among the awards and accolades Steve has received over the years are 15 + year Rockledge Little League volunteer, Brevard Public School Jefferson Award Recipient, Rockledge High School Raider Booster Award 2001, 2006, City of Rockledge Employee of the Year 2006, Rockledge Kiwanian of the Year 2006-2007, City of Rockledge Quality Public Service Award 2008, 2012, 2017, Rockledge Kiwanis Citizen of the Year 2012-2013, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Sportscasting 2015, Rockledge High School Leadership and Service Award 2016, Central Florida Humanitarian Award 2017, Space Coast Inspiration Award – 2018, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Lifetime Achievement – 2020, Ecofest Achievement Award – 2022, Quality Floridian Award – 2022, presented by U.S. Congressman Bill Posey, Florida House District 32 Constituent of the Week 4/20/25.
Wilson is especially proud of his chairing two fundraisers in support of pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in honor of Merritt Island resident Julie Spurlock that raised over $25,000.00.
He has been a partner, along with Orville Susong, for the past 26 years with the Friday Night Locker Room, a broadcasting team that covers and reports on a wide variety of local events that are of significance to the residents of the Space Coast and beyond. Their mission is to promote youth sports, support first responders and law enforcement personnel, and showcase community and charitable events that are produced by our nonprofit partners in central Florida.
The Friday Night Locker Room has awarded hundreds of sports achievement plaques to Brevard County student-athletes over the years. They have also awarded more than $18,000 in academic scholarships to Brevard County high school seniors.
