This article originally appeared in the Summer 2024 Champion Issue of Showstopper Magazine.

Sophia Oppegard was raised in a family steeped in athletic legacy. Her father, Peter Oppegard, and her aunt, Michelle Kwan—both Olympic figure skaters—inspired and supported her as she worked to achieve her dreams. While she didn’t directly follow in their figure skating footsteps, with their support she has discovered where her true passion lies—dance!
Art of Dance
“Since the beginning, dance has always been my primary passion,” Sophia recounted. Her family wanted her to follow her dreams, so she was rarely left with a babysitter. Instead, they enrolled her in classes and encouraged her to work on her craft in her spare time. “Commitment is your biggest strength,” Sophia explained. “It is in discipline that there are successors.”
While she’s been perfecting her technique since she was young, she still seeks out the challenges in her art form. “Something I love about dance is that it’ll always be hard,” she revealed. “It’s such a blessing to me that I can [dance] for so many years and always have something to improve upon!”
Olympian Family
Growing up with such prestigious family members, Sophia’s journey was bound to be extraordinary. Yet, she navigates her legacy with humility and gratitude, recognizing the invaluable support and guidance her family gave her. “My family members offered me the space to have individualism,” Sophia reflected. “They let me figure out my methods on my own. Finding a balance of helping and letting me do my own thing has not been easy, but they somehow managed to find a way!”
As for the expectations of being raised in a family of Olympians, Sophia considers having “such phenomenal influences around [her]” a “blessing beyond compare.” “I’ve learned that pressure is a privilege,” she expressed. “I’m thankful for the pressure they applied to my career. Without it, I don’t know if I could’ve achieved the growth as a dancer and person I have today.”
Being a Champion
Sophia has been a competitive dancer for. many years (and we’ve loved seeing her routines on the Showstopper stage!). And as someone who grew up surrounded by athletes who have competed at the ultimate level, Sophia has a good ideas of what winning truly means to her. “I’ve found that being a champion comes from following through [on] your intentions set at the beginning of a goal,” Sophia shared. As for how she stays grounded while competing? “It all starts with the mental. This means honing in on your mind-body connection and then physically preparing in ways that cater to your needs.”
It’s not all about winning for Sophia, though. Her aunt, Michelle Kwan, gave her “the best advice of all.” “It’s what’s inside that matters most,” she told us. “Medals mean nothing if I’m a bad person on the inside. This reminder has undoubtedly helped me become the dancer and person I am today!” Sophia has also maintained her passion for the art of dance—rather than just the competitive side of it—and she credits the classes at her studio for helping her do so. “They keep my spark for artistry alive,” she said.
Sophia will graduate high school this year and has no plans of taking her dancing shoes off any time soon. She was recently recruited to The Ohio State University Dance Team, something she believes will be a “life-changing” experience!