Jeremy Abbott, U.S. Figure Skater, Sends Middle Finger To Critics

U.S. Figure Skater Offers 'A Big F-You' To Critics
SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 13: Jeremy Abbott of the United States hits the wall while competing during the Men's Figure Skating Short Program on day 6 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at the at Iceberg Skating Palace on February 13, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)
SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 13: Jeremy Abbott of the United States hits the wall while competing during the Men's Figure Skating Short Program on day 6 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at the at Iceberg Skating Palace on February 13, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

"I just want to put my middle finger in the air and say a big 'F-you' to everyone who has ever said that to me because they've never stood in my shoes," declared Jeremy Abbott, a U.S. champion figure skater and member of the U.S. team competing in the Sochi Winter Olympics, reports NBC.

After Abbott's fall in the men's short event on Thursday, the four-time U.S. national champion's reputation as a "choker" in big competitions was resurfaced, Yahoo reports.

In his statement on Friday to reporters, Abbott said, "Nobody has to stand center ice in front of a million people and put an entire career on the line for eight minutes of their life when they've been doing it for 20-some years," and "if you think that that's not hard, then you're a damn idiot."

Also on Friday, Abbott participated in the free skate program, scoring 160.12, his personal best in international competition, as Yahoo notes.

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