Cool Sports 6 get skating ‘chance of a lifetime’
Madison McCameron, Kate Johnson, Maddie Darby, Ameliya Godo, Isaac Godo and Tait Light — all of whom skate at Cool Sports, Home of the Icearium in Farragut — skated between competitions Jan. 6-9 at Bridgestone Arena, picking up flowers, stuffed animals and other gifts tossed on the ice in honor of competitors vying for Olympic consideration.
“The U.S. Championships, which serve as the final qualifying competition prior to U.S. Figure Skating nominating athletes to the U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Team, attract more than 750 athletes, coaches, officials and media to the host community, in addition to thousands of spectators,” noted the U.S. figureskating.org website.
“It was awesome,” said Ameliya, who attends Farragut Middle School. “We got to see everyone who are our future Olympians.”
“It was really fun, getting to see everyone compete,” said her brother, Isaac, who is a Farragut Intermediate School student.
“We picked up a lot of stuffed animals, too.”
Ameliya said while many of the athletes donate the toys thrown their way, “One of the skaters told me he needed to keep the ones he got from this competition and bring them home.”
“We were on the ice maybe 10 to 15 times (during Nationals),” said McCameron, 16, who is a Lenoir City High School student. “It felt amazing, because we were only a few yards away from (competitors including) Starr Andrews and Nathan Chen,” who won his sixth men’s title.
“The sweepers also got ‘comps’ for each session they worked, so they could watch the competitions,” Madison’s mother, Carin McCameron, said.
“We not only got to see (those competing), but we also were on the same ice as the national skaters,” Kate said. “It was kind of crazy.”
“It was amazing just seeing our kids on the ice, and wondering if one day they might be competing, too,” her mother, Julya Johnson, said.
The Farragut and Knoxville skaters had to compete individually for available sweeper slots, said Julya, who also served as one of the group’s chaperones.
“U.S. Figure Skating sent an e-mail to parents seeking sweepers,” she said. “Athletes had to be between certain ages and certain (experience) levels, and we had to submit a video.
“They were then selected by a committee.”
Criteria included being between the ages of 7 and 15 as of Dec. 1, 2021; had, at minimum, passed test-level preliminary moves in the field and/or completed no-test-free, skate well-balanced or excel in a pre-preliminary event by Dec. 1, 2021; and the video submission.
Once selected, the sweepers had a dress rehearsal practice session in Nashville prior to Nationals.
Photo courtesy of Julya Johnson
