This is Keegan Messing, one of the male figure skaters that represented Canada at the Winter Olympics.  I was fortunate to see him when I volunteered for the Canadian Championships back in January. He ascends to amazing heights when he jumps.  I'm not sure how they do it but it's pretty amazing 

With dedication and practice, some athletes manage to ascend to such great heights during their careers with only a few ascending to the level where they actually make it to the Olympics representing their country. 

I used a lightroom preset on this photo in an attempt to enhance the texture and the show the grooves in the ice made by the skaters.  What heights can you ascend to today?