KIMMIE MEISSNER
day. I had one started and my computer crashed and I lost everything, so I want to start again. I love writing essays, maybe short stories.”
A skating story T e short story on Meissner — at least for
now — is that she is skating again. In December she made her debut as a Stars on Ice cast member and is currently touring in Japan before returning for shows in the U.S. in March and April. “It feels like I have a job right out of gradu-
ation,” Meissner said, laughing, “so that’s kind of nice.”
T e years after a skater steps away from competition can be extremely diffi cult. Meiss- ner is likening her transition out of school to her leaving the sport fi ve years ago. “It’s really a time for regrouping and reeval-
uating,” Meissner said, refl ecting while looking ahead to what’s next. “It’s so hard. I can still do shows, but stopping the competing aspect, that was my identity. Being immersed in that world, as soon as you walk away from it, it’s pretty terri- fying. How do I function as an adult? I feel better prepared this time around.” Stars on Ice castmate and friend Jeff rey But-
tle, the 2006 Olympic bronze medalist, empa- thizes with what Meissner is going through. “It’s a diffi cult transition,” said Buttle, who
won his own World title in 2008. “It’s sort of that question: ‘What now?’ It’s like starting a new chapter and you have no idea what’s next.”
A new ending So, what is next, Kimmie Meissner? “I would love to work as an editor at a liter-
ary magazine or be involved with the production of the magazine,” Meissner explained, forecasting a down-the-road dream job. “I guess if I had to pick something I had to do right now, it would be to get involved with one of them.” “It’s really exciting seeing her on the ice per-
forming still,” Buttle added. “Kimmie rolls with the punches. She’s dedicated and has a good head on her shoulders. She has all the attributes to do whatever she wants.” T at “whatever” is part of the beauty of it all
for the former World champion: She doesn’t have to choose right now. She can just write — and skate.
Perhaps a skating book — fi ction or not — could be on the horizon? “For my last paper at Towson, I wrote about
this novel A Breath of Life where the author, Cla- rice Lispector, discusses what it means to write — an argument of sorts,” Meissner said. “I looked at it with a bunch of diff erent theories and con- cepts, but ended with explaining how language is really never enough to satisfy what you mean, yet movement is. It worked out really well because I was able to tie in skating; my two worlds really meshed.”
While the next chapters — both in life and
in work — remain unwritten, it’s her pen and her skates that will tell whatever story is to come. Just how Meissner wants it.
Meissner basks in the moment following graduation from Towson Universtity
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SKATING 11
Making Friends for Life!
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