‘DISCIPLINE AND PERSEVERANCE’
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, JULIE BENZ EMBRACE SKATING’S LIFE LESSONS by LORI GROSSMAN
Have you ever heard of a figure skater named
Condoleezza Rice? Or an ice dancer named Ju- lie Benz? If the names are familiar in a different context, here’s the connection. Rice is best known for serving as the United States Secretary of State from 2005 to 2009 (the first African American woman to do so). Actress Benz played Darla in the series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and, more recently, Inspector Abby Dunn on “Hawaii Five- 0.”
It’s been said that the long hours and dedi-
cation required of figure skaters are good prepa- ration for future endeavors. Tat was certainly the case for these two former skaters.
CONDOLEEZZA RICE Te daughter of a minister and a teacher
was born in Birmingham, Alabama. Her mother, Angelena, derived her first name from the Italian musical term, con dolcezza, which means “to play with sweetness.” Encouraged by her parents, Rice
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice works on her technique with Mike Keas while living and going to school in Denver.
developed an interest in piano, sports, and — eventually — figure skating. “I first started skating during our family’s
summer trips to Denver,” she remembered. “Ev- ery summer, I would attend skating school to ad- vance my technique and skill.” When Rice’s father decided to do graduate
work at the University of Denver, the family made the move permanent. Rice trained as a singles skater, partly because
she was good at school figures. She admits to be- ing “fond of dance and terrified of pairs — and too tall for most of the boys, anyway.” Te first skater she admired was another singles skater — Tenley Albright. “I remember watching her a few years after
she won the 1956 Olympics,” Rice said. “I loved the grace and elegance of her skating. And, of course, Peggy Fleming was every skater’s favorite. We all wanted to be Peggy Fleming.” Albright and Fleming most likely inspired
young Condoleezza Rice as the days filled with school, skating and piano practice flew by. She entered her first major figure skating competition in August 1970. In her autobiography, Extraordi- nary, Ordinary People, she said: “My first competition was relatively success- ful. I had always been good at the compulsory
58 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016
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