GAIL HAMUL A
GAIL HAMUL A
“The things
that skating helped me with so much are goal-setting, focus and going day after day no matter how you feel.”
Gail Hamula, with her beloved dog
good care of me. It’s so important to have that trust.”
Tey trained in Chicago and at Te
Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She treasures memories of international com- petition, particularly winning in St. Gervais, France, and Oberstdorf, Germany, including a delay in one program when lightning struck the arena. She also remembers landing a throw double Axel at the U.S. Championships at a time when few pairs did that element. “I’m the kind of person, I don’t look way
out in the future,” said Gross, who honestly said she didn’t dream of competing at Worlds when she was a young skater. “I like to accom- plish little things step by step. Te things that skating helped me with so much are goal-set- ting, focus and going day after day no matter how you feel. “It wasn’t the medals. It’s the lifelong
mindset you develop. Tat’s something you can’t put on the wall. It’s part of your internal being.”
After two trips to the World Champion-
ships, she and Sweiding realized they were not going pass Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner either in the U.S. or internationally, so they turned pro. Te pair joined Ice Capades and toured for four years, which she described as a wonderful experience. She loved the traveling and being with other performers who loved skating.
When show life was done, she moved back to Colorado and began coaching at two rinks in the Denver area. She also went to college, earning a degree in business and management. In the fall of 1983, Gross met the love
of her life, Frank Gross, a former competitive Hamula and a few coworkers participated in volunteer day at the dental office at which she worked.
discus thrower and shot putter, and 10 weeks later they were married. He served 22 years as an officer in the Air Force. Over the course of nearly 28 years of marriage, they lived in several places, including more than seven years in Germany. She did some coaching wherever they
were, but usually stayed away from being primary coach for serious competitors because she never knew when they might be trans- ferred. When her husband was stationed in San Antonio, Gross was the head coach at the Crystal Ice Palace, even skating in a club show. In Germany, she put together a couple of shows. Her father encouraged her to become a dental hygienist, and when her husband was stationed in Germany, Gross worked as vol- unteer at a dental clinic. She finally attended dental hygiene school in the late 1990s and has worked in the field since graduating. Tragically, her husband was diagnosed
with pancreatic cancer and died about five years ago. Shortly after his death, Gross decided to leave Colorado and move near her sister in Wisconsin, where she lives today with a beautiful view of a lake.
“I miss him; he was my gentle giant,” she
said. “Sometimes you’re strong and sometimes it comes back.” Gross said she has listened carefully to what dental patients say and passed no judgment on dental issues they may have. She asked them to talk about themselves to put them at ease. Skating, including some injuries,
prepared her to persevere through problems, which she is calling upon while facing a huge challenge. Tree years ago Gross was diag-
nosed with Parkinson’s disease. She stopped coaching skating about a year and a half ago because she no longer felt comfortable demonstrating on the ice. At the end of February, she retired from her work as a dental hygienist. Her efforts are now focused on health, wellness and sharing joy. In retirement, Gross wants to reconnect with old skating friends on a deeper level than just Facebook, and promises to attend future Ice Capades reunions. She’s also toying with the idea of becoming a technical specialist for pairs.
“I’m in a new chapter,” she said. Calling on the fulfillment she found in skating and living her dream, she wants to help others find their joy and passion in life. She looks forward to traveling with other similarly motivated people. “You go through phases and seasons of
your life,” Gross said. “Te first season was where I was training and making the most of myself and trying to be the best skater I could be. Even through dental hygiene school, I got straight As. It’s about achievement. Te journey makes you strong for later. “Te second phase was to be a good wife. I thought I did that well. Tat ended abruptly. After he passed away, I moved and I taught skating. Ten with health issues, I stopped. “My identity has kind of been moving to
different things. I hope I can make a difference in the world with people dealing with Parkin- son’s,” she concluded. “I would like to help people. I’m also getting nostalgic. Tis is the time of our lives when we have time to nurture our relationships better. Te time is now.”
SKATING 9
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