WHERE ARE THEY NOW? by NICK MCCARVEL For the first time in as long as
she can remember, Kimmie Meissner’s schedule is completely about skating. And that’s exactly how she likes it. Forced away from the sport in
2010 due to recurring injuries, the former Olympian — and U.S. and World champion — threw herself into the busy life of a young, wide-eyed 20-something: she coached, she skat- ed and she went to school, attending Towson University in her home state of Maryland. In December, the now-25-year- old graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English, with a concentration in writing. It was a moment that brought about plenty of unexpected emotion. “It seemed like it took forever for
me to get there, and then all of a sud- den I was graduating. It was surreal,” Meissner said. “I thought I was just checking [college] off a list, but when the day came, I was really emotional about everything. I was really proud for making it to that point.” Her degree means she can official- ly begin the next chapter of her life, the first few pages — at least for now — consisting just of skating, something Meissner said feels almost foreign. “My immediate plan is just to
skate,” she said triumphantly. “And then maybe I’ll try and get into the real world. It still feels like I’m supposed to be going to classes this week. But I’m done.”
Sharpening her (book) skills It wasn’t the easiest of transitions
for Meissner to walk away from the rink in 2010, a bad right knee nagging at her, bringing down one of the few women who had ever landed a triple Axel in competition. But if Meissner’s career couldn’t have a fairy tale end- ing according to the record books, she decided to write herself a new future inside the classroom. “Writing has always been pretty
cathartic for me,” Meissner explained. “It relaxes you. I worked through a lot my issues that way. When I write about something I can really clearly see what I think about it.” Meissner moved home to Mary-
land in 2009 to live with her family again. In 2014, she served as a figure skating researcher for NBC during the Sochi Olympics and then worked for a local newsletter when she returned home, trying her hand at the challeng- es of writing and editing. “I liked that a lot,” said Meiss-
Kimmie Meissner will take part in the Stars on Ice tour this spring.
10 FEBRUARY 2015
ner of the work, now over six years removed from her last international competition, Cup of Russia in 2008. “But I am really drawn to creative writ- ing. I would love to write a book one
PHOTO BY ZACHARY WILLIAMS
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