For a skating coach, teaching skating is their job, so they might leave it up to each individual to have the body capable of handling intensive training. However, as skaters accumulate fatigue, the risk of injury increases. They might get caught in a negative spiral, training jumps when fatigued, becoming worse and more tired. Many end up quitting skating miserably, often without realizing the situation or feeling abandoned by their coaches.
To avoid such a scenario, it's crucial for skaters to develop their own "aim for the Olympics" plan. Skaters vary significantly in body size, personality, family support, learning preferences (visual or auditory), growth timing, financial condition, muscle, and skeletal situations. There probably isn't a coach who can tailor the best training plan considering all these factors. Even coaches hailed as the best in Toronto, Canada, or globally, likely follow similar coaching patterns, making them not ideal for all skaters.
Moreover, the most crucial aspect of aiming for Olympic champion status is to peak performance during teenage years. Training intensely in childhood to land numerous jumps and stand on podiums might not be as crucial. This is because growth spurts may nullify the sense of jumps learned during rigorous training in the past few years. It might be better to focus solely on fundamental skating skills in childhood and start jump practice smoothly after physical growth ends. This approach reduces the risk of injury and exhaustion, offering both physical and mental toughness during later stages, unlike skaters who trained rigorously since childhood, often plagued with injuries and exhaustion.
Therefore, despite the persuasion from skating coaches, aiming for Olympic champion status, skaters and their families should discuss and determine their own version of championship in figure skating.