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Kimmie Meissner tells media she doesn’t skate for medals
Meissner made her remarks as she fielded questions from a group of about 50 media representatives in the Fred Rust Ice Arena. “I don’t try to skate for medals,” Meissner said. “I skate because I love it.” Meissner, 16, earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team alongside national gold medalist Sasha Cohen and past champion Michelle Kwan by taking the silver medal at the 2006 State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis on Saturday, Jan. 14. The 2005 Winter Games will be held in Turin, Italy, in February. Joining Meissner at the news conference were her mom, Judy, her coach Pamela Gregory, and Ron Ludington, director of UD’s internationally renowned Ice Skating Science Development Center and member of the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame. “She is a very humble little girl,” Ludington said. “Every night when she is leaving, she stops by my office and says ‘Goodnight, Mr. Ludington.’” Ludington said that what really stands out in his mind about Meissner is the way she approaches her sport and her demeanor both on and off the ice. “Her passion for what she does is the thing about Kimmie that really stands out for me,” Luddington said. “She can have a bad day on the ice, but you would never know it. Her attitude never changes.” For Meissner, a Fallston (Md.) High School student whose day on the ice starts when school is finished, said she is learning how to deal with the media attention her performance at the Savvis Center in St. Louis has garnered.
Mesisner said that while representing her country in the Winter Games is certainly a special privilege, she is not going to change the way she approaches her sport and her skating routine. “I’m going to try to do my best when I get there,” Meissner said. “But, I’m not going to let it take over my whole life.” Despite her relaxed attitude concerning her newly won acclaim as a member of the U.S. Olympic Team, Meissner said she has noticed some changes in the way she is approached by schoolmates and friends. “It really has been crazy,” Meissner said. “People back home have been congratulating me, and my family has certainly been happy for me. I started way up high, and I’m just starting to come back down to Earth.” Kimmie’s mom, Judy Meissner, said that her daughter’s success is the result of a lot of hard work on the part of her daughter and her coach, along with support from UD and the local business community. “I want to thank everyone in the community,” Judy Meissner said. “Without everybody coming together, including the University and the Bank of America, we could not have made it.” The Bank of America Hometown Hopefuls program will help members of Meissner’s family travel to Turin to support Kimmie at the games. As for any motherly advice on practice routines or Olympic performance strategy, Judy Meissner said she prefers to leave those things to her daughter and her coaches.
Regardless of how things turn out in Turin, Judy Meissner said that she knows that her daughter will put her best effort into whatever routine she chooses for her Olympic debut. “I just want her to take that moment when we get to Italy and really give it the best that she can,” Judy Meissner said. “No matter what Kimmie achieves, I will know that she has done her best.” As far as the coach-skater relationship goes, Gregory said there were some initial hurdles to be overcome as to what worked and what didn’t in early practice sessions years ago. “When we started out, I had Kimmie work on fundamentals for at least 40 minutes each day,” Gregory said. “At first Kimmie was not very receptive, but we just kept hammering away at it.” Between now and the start of the Olympic Games in Turin on Feb. 20, Gregory said practice stratgegy will involve polishing everything that Kimmie has already adapted in her program. “It’s not really such a challenge to Kimmie, because she has this incredible work ethic,” Gregory said. “Her attitude on the ice is always positive. She truly enjoys the process.” While some things have changed since earning Olympic team status, Kimmie Meissner said that she still has to concentrate on her school work and take care of the family pets, including dogs Cain and Tucker and her cat Misha.
“My brothers called me and said that it was really cool that I did so well,” Meissner said. “I also know that I have to think about school subjects, including exams.” For Meissner, school seems to be much more demanding than a hectic practice schedule or dealing with the media attention that increases with each new achievement on the ice. “I’m thinking a lot about skating, but I also have to think about school subjects, including exams,” she said. “I’m not nervous at a press conference, but if I had to go up in front of my classmates and talk, I would be very nervous.” Perhaps the biggest thrill for Meissner will be to join her teammates at the opening ceremonies of the Winter Games next month in Turin. “I would love to be there for the opening ceremony,” Meissner said. “I want to come out with the whole team to maximize the whole Olympic experience.” At the news conference, Ric Struthers, Delaware market president for Bank of America, presented Meissner and her mother with bouquets, congratulated her on her performance at nationals and also praised her family members for the role they play in her success. Article by Jerry Rhodes |
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