Spotlight on Kristina Olson
By Sarah. Exclusive to Unseen Skaters. January 13, 2003.

Kristina Olson, 15, skates for the St. Paul FSC. She is coached by Ted Engelking and Ann Eidson, and trains at the The Depot in Minneapolis. Olson won the Upper Great Lakes Junior Ladies Regional, and finished second at Midwestern Sectionals.

When did you being skating?
I started skating when I was 5 years old. I began skating because my older sister, Casey, figure skated and I wanted to be just like her.

What are your long-term goals?
I have many long-term goals. I want to get two triple-triple combinations and my triple axel. Also, I am working to be one of the top figure skaters in the world and, of course, my ultimate goal is to win the Olympics! Most importantly I want to be a good role model for younger kids who want to follow their dreams. Off the ice I want to either go into fashion design or interior design. I am also interested in sport psychology.

What program elements are you planning? What music are you using?
My program consists of triple flip/double toeloop, triple lutz, triple toel oop/double toe loop, triple salcow, double axel/step/double axel and double loop. My long program is to the ballet, Giselle. My short program is to a Russian ballet called Kammanoi Ostrow.

What happened when you found out you qualified for Nationals?
When I found out that I had qualified I started crying. I have never been so happy in my life. It was especially overwhelming because of my placement in short. Just to come out the day of the long and skate the way I did made me feel amazing but qualifying for nationals was the icing on the cake. [Editor's Note: Olsons finished second in the free skate and second overall, after finishing ninth in the short program.]

What have you been working on to improve for Nationals?
We have really improved my skating quality and speed. I'm skating farther down in the "basement" rather than the "third floor". Midwesterns really gave me a lot of confidence so emotionally I feel better.

Describe your most memorable skating moment.
One of my most memorable moments would probably be when Professor Alexei Mishin was coaching at our rink and he brought with him Evgeny Plushenko. While I was in a lesson with my coach Ann said she had a phone call and asked Evgeny to coach me while she was gone. Although I was really nervous, he helped me a lot on my triple salchow.

Do you feel you have any specific strong and weak points?
I feel like this year everything has evened out. Artistry used to be my strong point, but now my technical has really caught up. I am confident on everything.

Which jump do you prefer?
My favorite jump would definitely be triple lutz.

Who are your favorite skaters?
My favorite skaters are Michelle Kwan because of her heart, Evgeny Plushenko for his technical accuracy, Kristi Yamaguchi for her many accomplishments and Janet Lynn for her joy and classic style.

What are some of your off-ice hobbies?
When I am off ice I like to shop, read, design outfits, and spend time with family and friends.

Why do you love skating?
I love skating because of the way it makes me feel. I get a rush through my body every time I get on the ice. Everything about it, from the blades’ edges slicing through the ice, to the wind in my hair makes me feel so wonderful. I also love skating because of what it has taught me -- life lessons, from discipline to patience to perseverance to perspective.