Rachael Flatt - 2008 World Junior Figure Skating Champion:
Rachael Flatt is the 2008 World Junior Figure Skating Champion and the 2008 and 2009 U.S. Ladies Silver Medalist. At the 2008 U.S. National Figure Skating Championships, Rachael won the long program.
In 2005, she won the U.S. National Novice Ladies Figure Skating title at age twelve and 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.
Most observers that see Rachael skate are impressed with her beautiful artistic presence and athletic ability.
Date, Place of Birth, Hometown:
Rachael Flatt was born on July 21, 1992 in La Jolla, California. Her hometown is Del Mar, California.
Family:
Everyone in Rachael's family supports her skating. Her parents skated recreationally when they were young. Her dad played intramural ice hockey while in college at MIT and while in graduate school in Wisconsin.
How Rachael Began to Skate:
Rachael writes:
- "We had gone shopping on a Saturday when I was about three and a half years old and walked past the rink in the shopping mall that we were at. The local skating club, La Jolla Figure Skating Club, was performing its summer ice show. I thought it looked like fun and told my parents that I would like to try skating some day. A few months later, my Dad and I were back at the mall, shopping for a birthday gift for one of my grandfathers, and instead of coming home with a gift, we came home with "Learn to Skate" lesson tickets. I never looked back!"
How Rachael Became Serious About Figure Skating:
Rachael writes:
- "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."
Coaches and Training:
Rachael Flatt trains in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Rachael writes:
- " I skate two sessions before school each day and two sessions after school each day. Off 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."
- Coaches: Tom Zakrajsek, Becky Calvin, Becky Bradley, Erik Schulz, Damon Allen, Eddie Shipstad
- Choreographers:
Short Program: Lori Nichol
Long Program: Tom Dickson
Test Record:
- Moves in the Field: Rahcael completed the senior field moves test when she was ten years old.
- Ice Dance: Rachael writes: "I have been working on my ice dances and I am up to my Silver Dances."
- Pairs: Rachael has passed her Novice Pairs test and competed in Juvenile and Intermediate pairs with Andrew Speroff. She and Andrew won a silver medal in National Juvenile Pairs in 2003 and were the 2004 Intermediate National Pair Champions.
- Singles: In 2006, Rachael passed her Senior Freeskating test.
Education and Hobbies:
Rachael attends Cheyenne Mountain High School. She is in the Honors/AP program. She loves tennis, surfing and bogey boarding, playing piano, and skiing.
Favorite Figure Skating Music and Favorite Skating Moves:
Rachael Flatt's favorite figure skating moves include her Ina Bauer, her triple flip, her triple salchow, and her donut spin. Her favorite music to skate to is classical. She especially enjoys skating to Gershwin's music.
Favorite Famous Skaters:
Rachael writes:
- "One of my favorite skaters is Kurt Browning (who I had the chance to meet in Toronto while working there with one of my choreographers) - He has amazingly fast feet! Other favorites are Scott Hamilton, Kristi Yamaguchi, and Michelle Kwan.
Hopes and Dreams :
Rachael Flatt writes:
- "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!"
Rachael Flatt's Dream Is Getting Closer:
At the 2009 ISU World Figure Skating Championships, Rachael Flatt finished in 5th place. Her dream of competing internationally has come true. Her hope to compete in the Olympics may become a reality.
