Christina Gao may be entering this week’s U.S. Figure Skating Championships as a dark horse, but she relishes proving people wrong.
Like those who thought her plans to juggle elite training and attending Harvard University were the wrong call, Gao points to the first international competition she entered as one of her proudest moments.
“Last season at Skate America, when I won the silver, has to be one of my favorite moments,” said Gao, who skates tonight in the ladies short program at TD Garden. “It was the competition where I proved everyone wrong. People were telling me I couldn’t balance both, and it gave me the motivation to keep going.”
Those who questioned the 19-year-old, Cincinnati, Ohio, native’s ability to balance daily training and an Ivy League education did not understand that she thrives on a full schedule.
“It was a very busy time, but I’m better at everything when I’m busier,” she said.
Gao nearly gave up skating when she received Harvard’s acceptance letter in the spring of 2012. Injuries and competitive disappointments in an elite training group in Toronto found her at a crossroads. Skating at The Skating Club of Boston allowed her to give elite competition one more chance while pursuing a pre-med program.
Last September, at the same time most freshmen struggle with finding the quickest routes from class to class, Gao was finding the best routes from her Harvard residence hall to the historic rink on Soldiers Field Road.
“There were a lot of times where I thought about dropping skating, but the support of everyone around me kept me going,” she said. “They kept telling me to at least close my career on my own terms.”
Gao’s priorities reversed. She took a sabbatical from Harvard to devote more time to her shot at the 2014 U.S. Olympic Team. Her graceful style earned her fifth-place finishes at the last four national championships. She will need to finish in the top three after Saturday’s long program to make her case for an Olympic spot.
Even if Gao doesn’t make the team headed to Sochi, Russia, she is proud that the girl who first took to the ice at age 7 made it to the biggest stages.
“As far as I’ve come in the skating world, I’m happy,” she said.
Gao’s competition includes two training mates. Brookline High senior Yasmin Siraj finished a spot behind Gao at the 2013 championships. Minnesota native Kiri Baga took second at the recent Cup of Nice international.
Three Boston-based pairs teams will also compete today. Leading the pack are 2013 national champions Marissa Castelli of Cranston, R.I., and Sudbury’s Simon Shnapir. They created buzz at practice by landing a throw quadruple Salchow.
Hingham’s Gretchen Donlan and partner Andrew Speroff could play spoilers thanks to a successful international season that saw them twice earn gold. Duxbury’s Alexandra Shaughnessy and James Morgan will compete on the senior level.
In tomorrow’s men’s competition, last year’s silver medalist and Watertown resident Ross Miner will contend. Wakefield’s Stephen Carriere will look to better his 10th place finish in 2013. Also, Saugus’ Colin McManus takes the ice with partner Anastasia Cannuscio in the championship ice dance event, looking to solidify a place as a team to watch for the 2018 Olympics.
