The Sports activities Archives – Can Gracie Win The Gold?

An 18-year-old Chicago native is gearing as much as change into America’s new sweetheart on the Sochi Olympics. Determine skater Gracie Gold, an brisk blonde with blue eyes and signature purple lipstick, took first place on the U.S. Championships in January and secured a spot on the Olympic-bound crew. Quickly after, she was dubbed America’s “face of the video games” by NBC, and was named a rising star by Sports activities Illustrated. Though the favored medalists for the ladies’s ice skating competitors are Kim Yu-Na of South Korea, Mao Asada of Japan and Carolina Kostner of Italy, issues are by no means a assure on the Olympics. (Who can neglect when newcomer Tara Lipinski robbed veteran Michelle Kwan of the gold medal within the 1998 Nagano Olympics?)

A Star’s Starting

Gracie and her twin sister Carly attended first and second grade in Springfield, MO. At some point, they went to a party on the Jordan Valley Ice Park Skating Rink, the place they spent an hour on the ice earlier than having fun with cake. Afterwards, Gracie advised her father that she needed to study to skate. When the ice skating teacher advised her dad and mom they need to contemplate personal classes, they discovered a brand new coach for her. Gracie beloved ice skating a lot that she started going to competitions recurrently. When Gracie was a freshman in highschool, her household moved to the Chicago space in order that she may proceed her ice skating profession.

Continued Success

In 2010, Gracie positioned 4th within the novice class on the U.S. Championships. She made her worldwide debut on the Junior Grand Prix in Estonia and walked away with the Gold. Gracie certified for the 2012 U.S. Championships within the Junior stage, profitable each the quick and lengthy applications with a purpose to stroll away with the gold. Throughout her senior worldwide debut, she completed fifth on this planet behind Junior Worlds medalist Adelina Sotnikova.

New Teaching

Gracie moved to Los Angeles in September 2013 to coach beneath legendary coach Frank Carroll, who coached Linda Fratianne, Michelle Kwan and Evan Lysacek, who gained the lads’s Olympic gold medal in 2010. Carroll has added depth, maturity, and beauty to Gracie’s performances. “I’m pleased to be working with Frank Carroll,” Gold mentioned in an announcement launched by U.S. Determine Skating. “He’s a beautiful coach. I’m grateful for this chance and I’m trying ahead to the long run.”

Making the Staff

Through the 2014 U.S. Championships, Gracie skated away with the gold as soon as once more, securing a spot on the Olympics crew within the course of. There’s now speculation as as to if she will medal for the U.S. on the Olympics. She said that getting ready for the Olympics is like “residing out her dream.” Gracie additionally said that an important factor to her is sustaining her ardour for the game. Her father, Carl, mentioned that he’s pleased with each of his daughters: “They’re pretty and type human beings who I’m very pleased with,” he mentioned. “I do know they sacrificed some issues, however Gracie now has that likelihood to make one among her desires come true.” Whereas Gracie’s dad and mom and youthful sister will probably be attending the Sochi video games, their family and friends—in addition to the remainder of America—will probably be maintaining with the coverage from afar. Though most commentators imagine that skaters from South Korea, Italy, and Japan will spherical out the medal platform, there’s at all times an opportunity that Gold may come via with a stunning efficiency. The ladies’s ice skating occasions start airing on February 19 and 20. We’ll have to attend till then to search out out what is going to occur, however it’s assured to be an thrilling journey.

Will Chavez is a sports activities blogger who enjoys protecting present occasions within the sporting world. He’s excited to observe protection of the Sochi Winter Olympics.

Picture Credit: Wikipedia

Associated Blogs of Curiosity:
Olympics Watch 2014!
Meet The U.S. Ladies’s Ice Skating Staff!
4 Information About The 2014 Winter Olympics!