If you need to give your child a reason to watch the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver let them know about young Mirai Nagasu and give them someone to root for. Mirai is competing in this year’s Winter Olympics as an American Singles Figure Skater. She will be competing against athletes who are double her age and who have been competing since she was born. With only two spots open to the Americans, it will be difficult for her to qualify for this year but keep an eye on her because in another four years she will be a front runner as a gold medal contender.
Mirai is 16 years-old and from Arcadia, CA who has been an ice skater since she was 5. One day when she was forced indoors after a golf game was rained out, she started skating and hasn’t stopped since. She worked hard enough to become the second youngest person to win the U.S. Championship when she was only 14. She enjoys reading, drawing and when her figure skating career is over, she would like to enter the fashion industry. For more information on Mirai you could check out her Web site.
She is a wonderful role model for you child because she is dedicated to something and is competing at the highest level at a very young age. She is not only a world class athlete, she is multilingual and a good student on top of it all. Mirai is someone that your kids can look at and know that at any age, if you work hard enough, you can get to the top.
Accomplishments
- 2008 U.S. Champion at 14
- First female skater since Joan Tozzer in 1937-38 to win U.S. junior and senior titles back to back
- 2007 World Junior Championships silver medalist
- Speaks Japanese and did commentating for a Japanese TV station at the 2009 World Championships
- 2007 U.S. Junior Champion
- Ranked No. 21 in the ISU World Standings as of May 2009
Other role models for your kids:
