Colorado figure skater, Haley Gans, died tragically in a skiing accident this past Friday, November 20, 2009. She was fourteen years old.
Haley brought joy to everyone she touched. Her mother, Pat, told me once that when Haley competed in figure skating competitions, she felt she was competing with people, rather than against them. She passed hugs and smiles around every day, and she brought happiness to the ice skating world.
Many people in figure skating knew and loved Haley. Gans was hearing impaired, but that disability did not stop her from doing great things in skating and in life.
- In Memory of Haley Rose Gans: June 16, 1995 - - November 20, 2009
- The Story of Haley Rose Gans
- Readers Share Their Memories of Figure Skater Haley Gans
- Haley Gans Photo Gallery
- Broadmoor Skater Touched Many Lives Before Untimely Passing - By Jo Ann Schneider Farris, on U.S. Figure Skating Online
- My Memories of Haley Gans
- Donate to the Haley Gans Memorial Fund
- Remembering 14 Year Old Haley Gans, Killed In Skiing Accident
- 14-Year-Old Figure Skater Remembered as an Inspiration
Comments
I am so sorry for this loss. I didn’t now Haley but I know she was loved and her time shouldn’t have been so short on this planet. Haleys friends and family will be in my prayers.
All my best
Ryan Wilcox
I just found out about Haley today, and I am absolutely devastasted. Even though we were from a different rink, Haley was always sweet and kind to my daughter. They skated together in different events and competitions, and Haley always routed for my daughter. Haley was one of the few skaters that didn’t have a jealous bone in her body; and never said a negative thing about her competitors. When ever she skated you could feel her love of skating as you watched her. She was an absolutely beautiful skater, and could have gone far in this sport. I was fortunate to spend time with her in Utah, at one of the regional competitions. She was always happy, especially about her hearing helper dog who accompanied her everywhere. She also had an undescribable love for mac and cheese. She was more than a daughter to her mother, you could tell that they were the best of friends. Whenever her mother spoke of Haley, you could hear and feel the love that she had for her little girl. We were thinking about Haley just the other day, and wondering how she was doing. Haley has now gone from being a special friend and fabulous person to a skating guardian angel who’s watching over everyone whose had their lives touched by her. Everyone whose ever skated against her will never forget her; I definitely know that my daughter and I never will. My deepest sympathy goes out to Pat and her family.