THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 21, 1994 TAG: 9408190270
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 23 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, CLIPPER SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
As a little girl, Amanda Kelly would sit in front of the television for hours watching the beauty and grace of figure skating.
The U.S. Championships. The World Championships. The Olympics.
But never in her wildest dreams did she think that could be her.
When she was 9, Kelly had a friend who took roller skating lessons. Yes, lessons - learning how to do more than just stumble around a rink like most of us do. After much pleading on Kelly's part, her mother enrolled her in a class.
She placed third in the first competition she entered.
Now Amanda Kelly has moved on to bigger things. After two previous trips to the U.S. National Rollerskating Championships, Kelly has finally broken through, taking first place among 27 skaters in the ladies' open loops competition at the 1994 championship in Lincoln, Neb.
``I was very much in shock'' at winning, she said. Coming into the finals, she was dead last in a whittled-down field of nine skaters. Kelly, 15, performed fifth, then waited with the other skaters in the ready area until the judges posted their ordinals (how they ranked the skaters in comparison to one another).
``I was surprised with the way I skated . . . usually I'm really nervous,'' said Kelly. ``But I tried to not let it get to me, and skated for myself.''
In her first trip to the nationals she placed fourth. In her second appearance her nerves overwhelmed her and she didn't place. But the third time proved to be the charm.
When the ordinals were finally posted, Kelly did exactly what you see all those victorious figure skaters on TV do.
She screamed.
``And I cried,'' Kelly added. ``I couldn't believe I had won.''
In rollerskating competitions, two concentric circles are drawn on the rink. The larger circle is used in the figures competition. When a skater performs in loops, she must trace the line of the smaller inner circle (which has an indentation) perfectly, and with the correct body posture.
Although Kelly is a national champion in loops, she believes figures is where her future lies.
``That (figures) is what I really want to win,'' she said. ``Next year in nationals the scores from figures and loops will be combined, so hopefully that will give me an advantage.''
Given that she had just proven herself to be the top loops skater in the country, you could understand if Kelly patted herself on the back a little. A rising sophomore at Great Bridge High School, Kelly didn't come home and spread the news of her win. It's just not her style.
``I really try not to make a big deal out of it,'' she said. Some of her friends think it's a little odd ``so I keep things to myself. But my grandma called everyone.''
Because of her choice of sport, Kelly occasionally catches heat at home from her older brother Jamie, 19, a former Great Bridge wrestler.
``Most of the time he supports me . . . but he always says that this isn't a real sport. I just tell him that I'm as much an athlete as anyone else,'' she said.
Like most people who are dedicated to their craft, Kelly has had to sacrifice to become as good as she is. First, there's the financial drain on her family. There are lessons to pay for, and costumes can run upwards of $300 each. Skates can set a parent back a hefty $400 a pair.
Then there is the cost in time. Kelly's coach, Joanne Brown, picks her up after school and the two travel to The Plaza, a skating rink in Hampton where Kelly trains. She often doesn't get back home until 9 at night.
``Most kids come home after school and talk on the phone, watch TV, or go out with their friends. I can't do that,'' Kelly said.
But she's not complaining.
``I've given up a lot, but it's all definitely been worth it.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by PETER D. SUNDBERG
Third time was the charm for Amanda Kelly, who took first place in
the ladies' open loops competition.
by CNB