Katy Taylor's Unforgettable First Junior Grand Prix (9/03)

Katy Taylor Photo by Michelle Harvath

(9/29/03) — U.S. novice ladies silver medalist Katy Taylor, 13, has made a successful leap to the junior level, highlighted by her recent silver medal performance at her first Junior Grand Prix event in Bratislava, Slovakia, Sept. 19-21. She had an exciting and memorable experience for her first JGP including making friends with international competitors, seeing the sights, and sitting in the kiss and cry area for the first time.

Taylor's new short program is set to a medley of Irish music. She started working on it after returning from her North American Challenge Skate assignment in Edmonton, Canada, at the beginning of August, where she won the gold.

"I've always wanted to skate to an Irish piece," Taylor said. "This was only my second time to compete with it, but the music fits my style really well, so it's coming along great!"

Going into the competition in Bratislava, Taylor didn't want to hold anything back - she wanted to be happy with how she skated and to have no regrets. She also wanted to be in the final warm-up group after the short program and to finish in the top half of skaters overall.

Taylor wasn't 100 percent satisfied with her short program, in which she finished fifth, but she considers her free skate performance, which bumped her up to second place, to be the best she's ever skated it.

"I had a shaky landing on my triple flip (in the short) causing me to put both my hands down and fall back, and I stepped out of my triple Lutz combination," she said. "I was a little disappointed because they were both great jumps and I should have landed them - I landed both of them in the warm-up."

But she didn't let her short program bother her - she put it behind her and focused on what was next.

"I just went out there the next day and trusted my training and did what I know how to do," she said. "I didn't put any pressure on myself to pull up in the long program."

Taylor, who landed five triple jumps in her free skate, said she has worked really hard this summer to increase the level of technical difficulty for the free skate. "It seems to be working," she said.

Taylor speaks with Dallas Morning News reporter Richard Durrett at the 2003 U.S. Championships.

"I was really proud of this performance because I didn't hold back at all, and my program was skated with nice flow and ease," she said. "This was probably the best I have ever skated this program in terms of both technical and artistry. It sure makes a great memory for my first Junior Grand Prix!"

Taylor's free skate is set to a medley of different patriotic songs. "It makes me feel so proud to skate to it as I represent my great country," she said.

Taylor did get to do a little sightseeing in Bratislava, which she said was beautiful, but she found it hard to communicate since many didn't speak English.

"In the old town, we had lunch at a little cafe outside, and thank goodness the menu had pictures so we knew what to order," she said.

She also saw a castle and the Danube River and said the cobblestone streets made the town very special.

Taylor also had the opportunity to get to know the four competitors from Japan the best during her stay in Bratislava.

"After the competition and the party was over, I went to their room and we played a Japanese card game. One of the girls from Japan had to translate things back and forth between the other Japanese competitors and me! It was really fun getting to know them and all the different skaters from each of the countries. Who knows, maybe I'll see my new friends from Japan again real soon, since my next Junior Grand Prix is in Japan."

One of Taylor's favorite experiences was her first time sitting in the kiss and cry area watching her marks go up on the screen, and then winning a medal just made everything that much better.

"It was so amazing getting a medal at my first Junior Grand Prix!" she said. "I couldn't believe it when I was standing on the podium and the American flag was being raised - it was an experience I'll always remember.

"Skating for Team USA and supporting each other as a team is such an honor," she continued. "You feel such a sense of pride representing the USA. The whole Junior Grand Prix experience has given me a ton of confidence because now I know that as long as I keep working hard and put my mind to it, I can reach my goals."

And as icing on the cake, Olympic champion Alexei Yagudin came up and congratulated her after her free skate. "That was so cool!" she said.

Taylor would advise other skaters to always have long- and short-term goals and always work hard to achieve those goals.

"Never give up!" she said. "And most importantly, have fun and don't put too much pressure on yourself."