(NEXSTAR) - Brittany Bowe skated her final Olympic race today, finishing just 0.3 seconds away from a podium position. While Bowe said it was difficult to see the first-place skater cross the line so close to her own finish, she was happy to represent her country and family at the highest level of the sport. The veteran skater said she did not think about the race being her last while competing, but the reality of her retirement set in by the end. "The second you cross the finish line and take a breath, you realize that's your last one," Bowe said. "So to look up and see my family and friends and the stands, it's just an absolute blessing." Bowe described the past 48 hours as a "whirlwind" after getting engaged. Her fiancée, Hillary, competed with the U.S. women's hockey team, scoring a tying goal to send the game into overtime before the team eventually won the gold medal. Bowe noted that these events made for a successful few days for their household. Throughout her career, Bowe has been recognized as a mentor and a central figure for both the men's and women's skating teams. Other athletes have described her as the "glue" that helps the team remain focused. Bowe said she views her leadership role as both a privilege and a personal responsibility. "Yeah, I mean, I've been out here for so long, and it's a privilege to have those eyes on me. And to know that I can mentor and lead and set an example really keeps me in line, also," Bowe said. As she concludes her Olympic career, Bowe is preparing to transition into another field entirely, albeit one that might still be useful in the world of sports: mindset coaching. "I've worked with the hypnotherapist for a number of years now and this past summer I did a course and got certified in hypnotherapy, so I'm really interested in stepping into the world of hypnotherapy and mindset coaching," Bowe said. All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by Nexstar. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by Nexstar staff before being published.