Figure skating is one of the most popular sports at the Winter Olympic Games. Because of the appeal of the sport, these athletes can potentially earn more than a speed skater or cross-country skier, for example. Ice skaters who train for the Olympics skate several times a day and often work side jobs in order to earn the money it takes to compete in the sport. Some are lucky enough to get a commercial sponsorship to supplement their training costs. Other options for professional skaters include performing in an ice show, such as the popular «Disney on Ice,» or becoming a coach or a sports commentator, like Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir. Most professional skaters start as children and practice multiple times a day for many years in order to make it to the Olympics or into a professional skating career. In addition to skating two to three times a day for five to seven days each week, figure skaters also need to train off the ice, such as strength training and dance, as well as p...