I took group lessons at a rink near my home. We first had to learn how to stand up on the ice wearing skates. Eventually we learned to move forward, but soon found out that it was not that easy to stop! So that was our next important lesson.

It was never about winning medals or being famous.

My dad worked several jobs to pay for my expense in skating.

People would ask me why I was doing what I was doing - but I always told them that I just loved to skate. There was no other explanation.

I started skating when I was six years old.

My hobbies are painting, crafts, and I like golfing.

My parents never pressured me to skate. They always said I could quit if I wanted to. They only expected me to skate when they had already paid for the expensive lessons. But, otherwise they said I could do what I wanted to do.