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KIDS' QUESTIONS
April 2007
Kids' Questions with Jeremy Abbott
Jeremy Abbott of Colorado Springs, Colo., turned in his best season yet with a fourth-place finish at the 2007 State Farm U.S. Championships and a bronze-medal effort at the Four Continents Championships.
Who are your role models in figure skating? How about outside the sport?
Sara Raju, 17
Rochester
I actually started skating because I saw Robin Cousins skate when I was little. He has had the biggest influence on my skating. I think Michelle Kwan is also an incredible role model on and off the ice. She has a love and passion that comes through in her skating that I find very inspirational. And on top of all that she is very kind and gracious.
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| Jeremy Abbott |
You always have the most wonderful choreography in your programs and you interpret so well. Who does your choreography and why did you pick them?
Mirielle Chambers, 16
Wichita
Damon Allen and Tom Dickson did my programs this past year. Damon has been choreographing my programs for a while, and we work well together. I had never worked with Tom before. My coaches thought that he could take my skating to a different level, so that is why I worked with him. It was a great experience. He helped me to find new ways to interpret my music, and he really has helped take my skating to another level.
How long did it take you to land your triple Axel?
Lauren Dinh, 10
Colorado Springs
It took me three months of working on my triple Axel every day to land it for the first time. However, it took much longer than that to get it consistent.
What is the best thing about being a figure skater?
Judy Trinh, 14
Philadelphia
My favorite thing about skating is traveling. I love getting to see the world and learn about different cultures. Every place has a different look and feel to it, and I love trying all the different foods.
What makes you passionate about skating?
Alissa Tamer, 13
Milford
I love the dichotomy between the artistic and athletic aspects of the sport. It's challenging to combine the two and do them both very well.
How do you manage to fight back after a bad fall or mistake in your program?
Jozy McCord, 15
Chillicothe
It's all about training. If you train your programs hard enough, you will have confidence in every element, so even if you make a mistake you can move on to the next element and know that you can do it.
How do you keep yourself focused when skating in front of a huge crowd?
Michelle VC, 12
San Francisco
I keep focused because of the training I do throughout the season. My coach always tells me that a competition isn't just the four-and-a-half minutes that I am competing. It is the preparation. It is every day that I am on the ice. Knowing that I am prepared gives me the confidence to stay focused when I am at a competition.
Does the fact that there are so many great skaters in Colorado Springs help your cause?
Jennifer Hilburn, 14
Sarasota, Fla.
It is very inspiring to skate with so many great skaters. Every day I skate with Ryan Bradley, who is the national silver medalist. It is really great to have such a close competitor on the ice with me every day. We constantly push each other to improve. It's always a competition, but in a positive way. For example, I will see him land a quad or do a good program and it makes me want to go show him up, and visa versa. But I think the reason it works is because we have a mutual respect for each other.
What did it feel like to win the Four Continents bronze medal in your own backyard?
Kelli Pearson, 16
Salt Lake City, Utah
It was such a great experience. It was amazing to have the support of the crowd. I loved feeling that everyone in the arena was cheering for me regardless of my result. It was a very genuine feeling, something that I have never felt before.
What do you think you need to improve upon to make the top three at U.S. Championships?
Marie Heath, 17
Boise, Idaho
I need to improve upon my consistency first and foremost. I am also working on quads. I think having the confidence in my ability to complete a quad in competition wouldn't hurt either.
