GALINDO, NICHOL HUMBLED TO ENTER U.S. HALL OF FAME by BARB REICHERT
Olympic gold medalists,
World champions and fellow hall- of-famers were among those who gathered at a reception Jan. 25 in Omaha to celebrate Rudy Galindo and Lori Nichol as the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame Class of 2013. Te Hall of Fame reception has become an annual reunion of sorts, as 165 guests mingled freely before honoring the hall’s new members, who were inducted earlier that eve- ning during an on-ice ceremony at the CenturyLink Center. Galindo, the 1996 men’s champion and 1989 and 1990 U.S. pairs champion with partner Kristi Yamaguchi, lit up the Omaha Hil- ton ballroom with his smile and playful laugh as he accepted con- gratulations from fans and skaters alike. Olympic champions Yama- guchi and Brian Boitano joined Galindo in the front row; all three live in the San Francisco Bay area, where Galindo coaches Yamaguchi’s daughter. World-renowned choreographer Nichol laughed her way through
INSPIRING MOMENT
a receiving line of figure skating’s elite, many of whom performed or coached her programs. Among those sitting with her were Olympic cham- pion Evan Lysacek and hall-of-fame coach Frank Carroll. Carroll, who helped launch
Nichol’s career when he asked her to choreograph programs for an 11-year-old Michelle Kwan, intro- duced her at the reception. Nichol, he pointed out, has worked with eight Olympic medalists and more than 35 World medalists. A tearful Nichol was humbled
by it all.
Lori Nichol and Rudy Galindo are celebrated by their skating peers at the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame reception . (l-r) Tom Collins, Frank Carroll, Sarah Hughes, Lori Nichol, Rudy Galindo, Peter Oppegard, Kristi Yamaguchi, Paul Wylie, Tara Lipinski, Brian Boitano, Doug Wilson and Richard Dwyer
“I would not be standing here
tonight if it weren’t for you, Frank,” she said. “Your knowledge, char- acter, wit and patience and profes- sionalism consistently amaze me. Working with you and knowing you have been among the greatest gifts of my life. It will take me a lifetime to express my gratitude to you.”
Galindo, who is best remem-
bered for his inspiring and sur- prising 1996 U.S. Championships victory, was introduced by his sister, Laura Galindo. In a tender tribute, he shared how Laura helped raise him as a child and supported him as a skater. Coming from a family with meager means, Rudy Galindo lived in a trailer and rode a bicycle as his
transportation. When he realized the 1996 Championships would be held in their hometown of San Jose, Calif., Rudy asked Laura to coach him. Te result is now part of his hall-of-fame history. In a story that appeared on the called
MercuryNews.com, Galindo
the Hall of Fame induction an affir- mation of everything he has accom- plished. “It just says that you don’t have
to hide or you don’t have to give up on your passion for something,” he said. “All those years having to get up and train and go to ballet class and ride the bike and go to the gym. Tis confirms it. It’s all so worth it.” Laura Galindo, who shies
away from taking any credit for her brother’s success, is proud of his ac- complishments and perseverance. “He is finally acknowledged
by his peers that he made a differ- ence in the skating world,” she said. “Rudy has changed a lot of things, from how people skate to what they wear. But most of all, Rudy has in- spired others to just believe in your goals.”
Lori Nichol and Rudy
Galindo are honored as the U.S. Figure Skating Class of 2013 during an on-ice ceremony in Omaha.
SKATING 53
PHOTOS BY JAY ADEFF
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84