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World skating champ Meissner fields media questions
4:18 p.m., Jan. 4, 2007--In a pre-U.S. Figure Skating Championships press conference held at the University of Delaware's Fred Rust Ice Arena on Thursday, Jan. 4, world figure skating champion Kimmie Meissner fielded questions on triple axels, competition and plans for college before she hit the ice for an afternoon training session. Flanked by Pamela Gregory, her longtime coach, and Ron Ludington, director of UD's Ice Skating Science Development Center, Meissner, 17, joked casually with about 50 media representatives on learning to drive, and downplayed repeated questions about including a triple-axel jump in her program at the upcoming State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships, set for Jan. 21-28 in Spokane, Wash. “I'm feeling in very good shape, and every day on the ice is hard-core training,” Meissner said. “I tried [a triple axel] in Paris. I fell down, but I tried. At the Nationals, I don't know if the risk is really worth it.” Gregory, who said that the decision to include a triple axel depends on consistency over a span of time, added that the new scoring system also has some influence on risking the notoriously difficult maneuver.
Meissner, who will not be competing against either Michelle Kwan or Sasha Cohen at the championships, said that although the field is relatively open this year, competition has never been an issue for her. “Every time I go, I always represent myself,” she said, “and what I've learned is that anything can happen.” As the questions took a more personal turn, Meissner responded to reports that she plans to attend UD as a freshman next year and said that she is applying to the University because of its strength in the sciences, an area of academics in which she excels. Asked about the ways in which she feels she has grown in the past few years, Meissner responded that she no longer gets rattled by widespread public recognition or photographers, and said that she feels surer of herself on the ice as well. “A lot of people recognize me now, but I'm more sure of myself, and I'm definitely sure of my skating,” she said. Ludington added that he also has witnessed Meissner's confidence and poise grow along with her renown. “When you're as young as [Kimmie] is and a world champion, it's hard,” he said. “I think that the hardest thing for her is not getting distracted. She's extremely focused. That's the biggest growth I've seen in her.”
Gregory agreed. “I can say as a coach that the hard work for Kimmie is fun. She likes to work hard. That's what makes her so special.” Meissner concluded the press conference with a routine on the ice. She will perform her U.S. Figure Skating Championships program at the National Send-Off Skating Exhibition at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 14, at the Fred Rust Ice Arena. Tickets to the show, which are on sale now at UD box offices and through TicketMaster, are $12 for UD students, faculty and staff with ID, and for seniors and youths 18 and under. A group rate of $10 per ticket is available for groups of 10 or more. Tickets are $15 for all others. Doors to the show open at 1:30 p.m. For more information on the event and group arrangements, call (302) 831-6038. Article by Becca Hutchinson
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