Milwaukee is the site of the prestigious 15th Skate Milwaukee Figure Skating Competition. This premiere event is sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating and hosted by the Wisconsin Figure Skating Club. The competition takes place at the Kern Center on the campus of the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE).
This year Skate Milwaukee welcomes special guest, Peggy Fleming, the legendary Gold Medalist in figure skating and longtime sports commentator. Peggy will be presenting a special seminar for all skaters at noon on Friday, “Lessons of the Sport—Realizing Success On and Off the Ice.” Peggy Fleming will also be assisting in critiquing skaters on their competitive performances.
Returning to Milwaukee for the second year is the North American Cup, a special competition between Canada and the U.S. The best up-and-coming skaters are showcasing their talents as they reach to the International Junior Grand Prix circuit.
Skate Milwaukee continues to draw competitors from all over the country, as well as international skaters. World and Olympic officials will be present to assess and give feedback to the competitors. Skaters will come to compete with new programs under the new rules of the season.
World officials will judge these competitors. Just returning from her position as Chief Referee of the U.S. Nationals in Detroit is Gale Tanger. Gale who will serve as Chief Referee is a World and Olympic referee and judge. She is a resident of Wauwatosa. Joining her will be Alexander Lakernik from Moscow, who is the Vice President of the International Skating Union, and Charlie Cyr, International Skating Union Sports Director. Several of the officials are recent officials of the Olympic Games and many will be judging the U.S. National Championships in Detroit in January 2019.
Admission is free at the Kern Center. Parking is in adjacent structures to the arena. For further information contact Diane Blacher, chair, at sblacher@wi.rr.com.
About Peggy Fleming - Peggy Fleming’s name became synonymous with excellence and elegance as a result of her Olympic and World Championships. Her Olympic Gold medal at the 1968 Olympic Winter Games in Grenoble, France was the only Gold medal for the entire U.S. Olympic team.
Peggy won her first U.S. National Championship in 1964 and was named to the Olympic Team. She went on to win five National Championships and three World Championships.
After winning her Olympic gold, Peggy starred in five NBC television specials and performed in skating shows across the country and abroad. Later, she became a popular commentator for ABC Sports/ESPN working alongside fellow Olympic champion, Dick Button.
Peggy faced her own health challenge in 1998 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Following recovery, Peggy became a spokesperson and speaker for women’s health. In 1999, at Sports Illustrated’s “20th Century Awards,” she was honored as one of seven “Athletes Who Changed The Game.”
She remains very grateful to have found skating at an early age. It offered everything she loved-athleticism, music, dance, grace and creativity giving her a life far beyond her imagination.
Peggy and her husband, Greg, raised two boys and now live in Colorado.
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