Life hasn’t slowed down for figure skater Gracie Gold.
Since twirling onto the world stage at this year’s Winter Olympics, the 18-year-old hasn’t leapt off.
Illinoisans will have a chance to see the former Chatham Glenwood High School student, whose father, Carl Gold, works at Passavant Area Hospital in Jacksonville, skate again when the Stars on Ice tour stops in the Chicago area May 3 at the Allstate Arena. The tour travels the country, and Olympic gold medal-winning ice dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White are on board, as is fellow U.S. skater Ashley Wagner.
After winning the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Gracie joined Team USA in Sochi, Russia, for the 2014 Winter Games. Gracie and fellow American skaters received bronze medals in a new team competition.
The former Springfield Figure Skating Club member performed a stellar long program en route to the medal podium. During the individual competition, she placed fourth, sparking chatter that she’d be a 2018 Olympic contender.
In an interview with The State Journal-Register last week, Gracie acknowledged she’s always thinking about the future — including four years from now.
“There’s always a bigger picture when it comes to skating,” Gracie said.
Weeks after the Olympics, Gracie finished fifth at the World Figure Skating Championships in Japan.
She then moved full speed from the world championships to the Stars on Ice tour.
The past few months have been overwhelming, Gracie said. But her hard work and the opportunity afforded to her puts things into perspective, she said.
“It’s been a blessing,” she added.
It’s in Springfield and the Chicago area that Gracie cemented her triple jumps and much of her technical training.
Though people told her she had vast potential, it was “hard to take seriously because there are a lot of young kids” that look like they have that talent, she said.
But in 2010, at age 14, Gracie changed her tune.
“Watching (the Vancouver Olympics) kind of changed my mindset to make the 2014 Olympics a real goal,” she said.
Though she hasn’t had a chance to visit Springfield or Chatham the last few months, she hopes to soon.
“It’s a very welcoming community,” Gracie said of her Midwestern roots, citing people who are warm and friendly, offering personal greetings and replies.
“It’s about the people,” she said.
Springfield Figure Skating Club members keep tabs on Gracie with awe. Many of the local skaters watched her Olympic performances together.
“It’s really fun to go back now and then and see how the club has grown and changed,” Gracie said.
As her skating career has blossomed, she’s watched younger children grow as both skaters and people.
While Gracie’s focused on the current U.S. tour and a smaller Japanese star tour, she is thinking about next year’s competition season. She’s even got 2018 in her sights. Those Olympics will be held in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Her twin sister, Carly Gold, also will be skating next season.
“Being able to go on the journey with someone that you really care about … it’s been the best,” Gracie said of having a supportive sister.
Gracie’s advice for young skaters and their families is to keep things fun. To rise through the skating ranks, athletes have to get up early, stay late and spend hours upon hours perfecting skills and routines. If it’s not fun, a skater won’t want to do it.
“Competitions are fun,” Gracie said. “It’s been a great couple of months.”
Young skaters should set realistic goals while “knowing that anything can happen,” she said. “Anything is possible.”
Since twirling onto the world stage at this year’s Winter Olympics, the 18-year-old hasn’t leapt off.
Illinoisans will have a chance to see the former Chatham Glenwood High School student, whose father, Carl Gold, works at Passavant Area Hospital in Jacksonville, skate again when the Stars on Ice tour stops in the Chicago area May 3 at the Allstate Arena. The tour travels the country, and Olympic gold medal-winning ice dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White are on board, as is fellow U.S. skater Ashley Wagner.
After winning the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Gracie joined Team USA in Sochi, Russia, for the 2014 Winter Games. Gracie and fellow American skaters received bronze medals in a new team competition.
The former Springfield Figure Skating Club member performed a stellar long program en route to the medal podium. During the individual competition, she placed fourth, sparking chatter that she’d be a 2018 Olympic contender.
In an interview with The State Journal-Register last week, Gracie acknowledged she’s always thinking about the future — including four years from now.
“There’s always a bigger picture when it comes to skating,” Gracie said.
Weeks after the Olympics, Gracie finished fifth at the World Figure Skating Championships in Japan.
She then moved full speed from the world championships to the Stars on Ice tour.
The past few months have been overwhelming, Gracie said. But her hard work and the opportunity afforded to her puts things into perspective, she said.
“It’s been a blessing,” she added.
It’s in Springfield and the Chicago area that Gracie cemented her triple jumps and much of her technical training.
Though people told her she had vast potential, it was “hard to take seriously because there are a lot of young kids” that look like they have that talent, she said.
But in 2010, at age 14, Gracie changed her tune.
“Watching (the Vancouver Olympics) kind of changed my mindset to make the 2014 Olympics a real goal,” she said.
Though she hasn’t had a chance to visit Springfield or Chatham the last few months, she hopes to soon.
“It’s a very welcoming community,” Gracie said of her Midwestern roots, citing people who are warm and friendly, offering personal greetings and replies.
“It’s about the people,” she said.
Springfield Figure Skating Club members keep tabs on Gracie with awe. Many of the local skaters watched her Olympic performances together.
“It’s really fun to go back now and then and see how the club has grown and changed,” Gracie said.
As her skating career has blossomed, she’s watched younger children grow as both skaters and people.
While Gracie’s focused on the current U.S. tour and a smaller Japanese star tour, she is thinking about next year’s competition season. She’s even got 2018 in her sights. Those Olympics will be held in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Her twin sister, Carly Gold, also will be skating next season.
“Being able to go on the journey with someone that you really care about … it’s been the best,” Gracie said of having a supportive sister.
Gracie’s advice for young skaters and their families is to keep things fun. To rise through the skating ranks, athletes have to get up early, stay late and spend hours upon hours perfecting skills and routines. If it’s not fun, a skater won’t want to do it.
“Competitions are fun,” Gracie said. “It’s been a great couple of months.”
Young skaters should set realistic goals while “knowing that anything can happen,” she said. “Anything is possible.”