in her season debut), she said she was excited to work with a coach of Carroll’s stature and success. “Frank is arguably one of the best coaches
in the country,” she said. “He has had so many champions, and I just want to go and see if I real- ly like it and if it’s a good fit.” Gracie also battled to keep thinking positive- ly about what she knows her body can do. Her short program has been a longtime nemesis, as was evident on more than one occasion last sea- son. A prime example came under the spotlight of the 2013 U.S. Championships in Omaha, Neb., where she sat in ninth place after the short. Te following night, she executed a nearly flawless free skate to vault into second place, earning both the silver medal and the crowd’s favor. “I have to up the consistency in competi-
tion,” she said. “I’m a self-doubter and I’ve always been in my own way at competitions. I have to figure out how to keep steady with my elements and my mind. I hope that a change in my training situation will help bring everything together.” Tough many consider Gracie one of the fa-
vorites for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team, the high school senior acknowledges the work ahead and tries to keep the allure of the Olympics from
In September, Gold switched coaches and training locations, opting for renowned Olympic and World coach Frank Carroll and El Segundo, Calif.
Gold showcased her new programs at the U.S. International Classic in Salt Lake City, where she collected the silver medal.
overshadowing her efforts. Troughout the summer, Gold made fre- quent trips to Canton, Mich., to work with Mari- na Zoueva and Oleg Epstein, who choreographed her Gershwin’s “Tree Preludes” short program and Te Sleeping Beauty free skate. “I went to Detroit as much as I could to
work on choreography and skating skills,” she said. “Being able to skate with the best ice danc- ers, like Meryl Davis and Charlie White, has helped me to get better at skating with emotion.” Brown echoed that sentiment. “Tis season, Gracie is really trying to devel- op herself as an artist,” Brown said. “She is pay- ing attention to detail through connecting with the audience, holding her landings and creating beautiful lines and pictures on the ice.” Speaking of the audience, Gracie plans to channel her inner Scott Hamilton when she faces a crowd. “At Champs Camp, Scott said something
wonderful about not winning the judges, but winning the audience,” she said. “I want to leave everyone with the emotions I portray in my pro- grams. I need to create an emotional connection that I lacked last year. “I don’t want to leave anything on the table.
Tere are no moments of ‘I’ll just train tomorrow’ or ‘I’ll work on this another time.’ Sure, I want to medal at my Grand Prix events and go to the Grand Prix Final, but when it comes down to it I want to be top three in Boston [at the 2014 U.S. Championships]. Tat’s my ticket to the Olym- pics.”
And for the Gold family, no matter what
happens in January, the journey will have been worth it. “When I reflect back, I have no regrets,”
Denise said. “Skating has provided our entire family with unique and rewarding gifts. I don’t have much memory of idyllic days spent poolside. What I have instead are memories of challenges and victories, and sadness and defeat. Tose are the moments that have and will continue to de- fine us and enrich our lives.”
24 NOVEMBER 2013
JAY ADEFF/U.S. FIGURE SKATING
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