GREATS RETURN TO SALT LAKE CITY FOR 2002 OLYMPIC ANNIVERSARY
The 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics were full of drama and
intrigue, as well as many memorable performances. Some of the biggest names from those Olympic Games recently returned to the city to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the historic event. On Feb. 18, the Emmy award-winning Stars on Ice tour made a stop at the EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City. Among the performers were the 2002 Olympic champion Sarah Hughes, 1996 World champion Todd Eldredge and 2002 Olympic gold medalists Jamie Sale and David Pelletier. Along with new exhibition pieces from the current “Love ’n’ Life” theme, the skaters performed special selections from the 2002 Olympic Games. Another notable attendee was Mitt Romney, a 2012 Republi-
can Party presidential candidate. Romney served as the president and CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the 2002 Games.
Olympic champion Scott Hamilton and his manager Robert D.
Kain created Stars on Ice in 1986. The “Love ’n’ Life” theme was developed by four-time World champion Kurt Browning, who also serves as the tour’s co-director and choreographer. For a list of tour dates and additional information, visit
www.starsonice.com. — Kama Korvela
HQ PROFILE: PETER ZAPALO
I am in charge of
all things sports science and medicine for U.S. Figure Skating. I work with Heidi
Thibert to provide edu- cation to the Professional Skaters Association, and the liaison to U.S. Figure Skating’s Sports Science and Medicine Committee, which promotes research in our sport and sends out physicians and physical therapists to travel with our international teams. I am responsible for co- ordinating medical care/ return to play for all In- ternational Selection Pool (ISP) athletes. I help design and imple- ment all the athlete testing and sports science education and en- sure eligible athletes are following the appropriate rules for clean sport. I assist ISP coaches and athletes with designing their yearly plans and help construct training programs, and I provide video feedback with high-speed video both in practice and competition. I’m in charge of the S.T.A.R.S. athlete testing program, which will be in 20 cities this summer. I couldn’t get this all done without the help of the Athlete High Performance team at headquarters and our army of volunteers in the Sports Science and Medicine Com- mittee, and the cooperation of the PSA. What do you like to do in your spare time? I’m big into photography, mostly sports and travel. I took more than 15,000 shots at the 2010 Olympics. I also like to cook, read and hang out with my family and my 70-pound Bouvier, Sim- one.
What would people be surprised to know about you? I studied piano at Peabody concurrently with my premed
studies at Johns Hopkins. I worked with ESPN as a consultant for skating and football broadcasts. I’m an awesome cook, but I still TV (not making this up) and her favorite channel is Animal Planet. What do you cherish most? I like being able to have time with family and friends, and I
like to surprise people with visits or photos that I’ve taken. What is your favorite part of the job? Learning from the amazing coaches and athletes we have
U.S. Championships competitor Brandon Mroz receives the 2012 Champions in Life Award from Audrey Weisiger, president of Grassroots To Champions and creator/director of Young Artists Showcase, during a break at the 2012 Prudential Figure Skating Championships in San Jose. Doug Mattis, G2C staff and producer of Young Artists Showcase, was also on hand to help present the award. Mroz, the 2009 U.S. silver medalist, enjoyed a big season competition. The award is given each year to a skater or skaters who show excellence in their sport, academics and community ser- vice. Other winners of the award this year are Garrett Kling, Kate Charbonneau, Anna Cobb, Kayla Johnson and Kristina Anderson.
in the U.S. I know it is a privilege to be able to interact with these incredible people. Even though I have been involved with elite- level skating for almost 20 years, I have learned so much about all aspects of the sport since coming to U.S. Figure Skating in 2010. I can’t believe I work with two Olympic coaches every day (Mitch Moyer, Kathy Casey) and that I get to talk to so many great minds in the sport. Talk about your family? Big family! My dad is a pilot and my mom is a neonatal de-
velopmental specialist. I have two sisters, two brothers, one niece, three nephews, one dog, countless aunts, uncles and cousins, and two grandparents whom I talk to at least once a week. What’s your ideal vacation? Three weeks in Europe, no cell phone reception!
SKATING 7
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