Colorado Springs’ own new Olympic star Rachael Flatt skated in the Ladies Figure Skating Short program on Tuesday and thrilled audiences with her enthusiasm and charm. Only 17 years old, Flatt has been skating for most of her young life and enjoys being a reigning national champion. She became a pairs champion with Andrew Speroff, when she and Andrew won a silver medal in National Juvenile Pairs in 2003 and the following year were the 2004 Intermediate National Pair Champions. Rachael was the 2008 World Junior Figure Skating Champion, and the 2008 and 2009 U.S. Ladies Silver Medalist before becoming the 2010 U.S. National Figure Skating Champion. She made her debut appearance in the Olympics with the Short program in the Vancouver Games.

Rachael has been skating since she was 3 1/2 years old when she first took lessons at a mall in California near the family home. After they moved to Boulder, Colorado and then to Colorado Springs, she started competitive skating at 12. She won the U.S. National Novice Ladies Figure Skating title and then went on to win the silver medal in the Junior Ladies division in 2006. In 2007, she won the Senior Ladies title at both regional and sectional competitions. Rachael remarks “I have always enjoyed watching skaters compete, and I think skating just grows on you. The more fun you have especially when competing, the more you want to work at developing your skating.” She certainly has developed into a beautiful skater and young lady. Rachael attends Cheyenne Mountain High School in Colorado Springs, where she is in the Honors/AP program.

She trains in Colorado Springs and explains, “I skate two sessions before school each day and two sessions after school each day. Off the ice work (strength and conditioning, off ice jumps, ballet, etc) is worked in later in the afternoons after all my On Ice work is completed. Then, it is home for homework, dinner, more homework, hanging out with my dogs, Lucy and Ethel, and time for bed.” As far as her aspirations for ice skating,  “My goal is to be the best skater that I can be….compete internationally….to have a solid triple axel……..and to be an Olympian!” It would appear that dream has now been realized and along with one of her coaches, Olympic star Dorothy Hamill, she is confidently showing the world what she has to offer on the ice. Coloradoans applaud our ambassador on the ice – Rachael Flatt!

Colorado Springs Skating Star Rachael Flatt

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