About Us

KID SPOTLIGHT

November 2004

Caroline Patton

Age: 10

Home club: Florida Gold Coast FSC, but I train at the Sun Valley FSC in Sun Valley, Idaho

Skating level: Preliminary

Coach: Sonya Dunfield

Favorite skaters: Scott Hamilton because he inspires me, and Brian Boitano because of his spread eagle and artistry

How long I've been skating: 4 years

Favorite jumps/moves: My favorite move is the outside edge spread eagle because everyone at the rink always watches and claps when I do it.

Favorite skating moment: After seeing them skate at the World Championships, it was great to finally meet Sasha Cohen and Irina Slutskaya when they performed in Sun Valley.

Goals: My immediate goal is to be selected as a flower sweeper at the 2005 State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships. My long-term goal is to win the Olympic gold for the United States so other children with celiac disease can be motivated to succeed and concentrate on their dreams.

What else you should know about me: At age 5, I was diagnosed with celiac disease, which affects the immune and digestive systems. Since there is no cure, I've learned to help control it while keeping my skating dreams alive. I enjoy being on a community drama troupe, volunteering as a reader to children at the public library and racing soap box cars against the boys.