Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier: The figure skaters not being "just another athlete" at the Olympic Winter Games

Less than two years after coming together as a pair, Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier are competing at Beijing 2022.

At 30 and 29 years old respectively, the pair have plenty of experience as well as a partnership that has already become a strong one.

There is plenty of reason for United States of America to be excited about them in the Pair skating competition.

“I think in the beginning he only saw me in a competitive light and I only really saw him in a competitive light,” Knierim told Olympic Channel of Frazier. “We actually did not know each other on a deeper level. But now I really know the person Brandon is and what he stands for. I admire him. I think one of my favourite parts about taking on this partnership was just seeing a totally different side of Brandon that I was not expecting.”

“In our sport, it's important to me personally to be able to get along with the person I'm skating with,” Frazier added. “I have really enjoyed getting to know Alexa as a person. It speaks to a lot of why she is so successful and good at what she does. But on top of all of it, I just like the person she is. At the end of the day, it makes me think about how I can do better personally when I get to see her and how she works and how she treats other people at the rink.”

“I think that Brandon was surprised at how well we get along,” Knierim offered, laughing. “I consider him like a best friend of mine. I have no problem spending time outside of the rink with him because we just have fun and we share the same sense of humor.”

Knierim had previously won bronze in the team event at PyeongChang 2018, skating with her husband Chris, while this is Frazier's first Games.

Speaking in 2021, Frazier said: “Last year [at nationals] before we