Big changes are in line for Rachael Flatt, the Olympic skater from Colorado Springs.
Flatt announced today she will begin training with coaches Justin Dillon, Lynn Smith and Sergei Ponomarenko at three ice rinks in the Palo Alto, Calif., area as she begins coursework at Stanford University in late September.
“I’m looking forward to the beginning of my academic endeavors and my training in northern California,” Flatt said in a statement. “I’m excited to work with Justin and Lynn and eventually compete at the U.S. Championships that will take place near my new training sites.”
Flatt will train under Smith and Dillon at Sharks Ice San Jose, the official practice venue of the 2012 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Sharks Ice Oakland and Ice Oasis in Redwood City, Calif.
For the last 10 years, Flatt worked with Tom Zakrajsek and Becky Calvin at the Broadmoor Skating Club in Colorado Springs.
Under Zakrajsek and Calvin, Flatt won the 2010 U.S. and 2008 World Junior titles and earned three silver medals at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships (2008, ’09, ’11) and claimed four silver medals in the International Skating Union (ISU) Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series.
Flatt finished seventh at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.
“With regard to my skating, there are so many people who have been part of my team,” Flatt said. “I’d like to thank Tom and Becky especially for being part of that team from the beginning.”
