by Karen Chen
1950 Washington, DC Yvonne C. Sherman Sonya Klopfer Virginia Baxter
1951 Seattle Sonya Klopfer Tenley Albright Virginia Baxter
1952 Colorado Springs Tenley Albright Frances Dorsey Helen Geekie
1953 Hershey Tenley Albright Carol Heiss Margaret Graham Margaret Dean
1954 Los Angeles Tenley Albright Carol Heiss Frances Dorsey Margaret Graham
1955 Colorado Springs Tenley Albright Carol Heiss Catherine Machado Patricia Firth
1956 Philadelphia Tenley Albright Carol Heiss Catherine Machado Mary Anne Dorsey
1957 Berkeley Carol Heiss Joan Schenke Claralynn Lewis Nancy Heiss
1958 Minneapolis Carol Heiss Carol Wanek Lynn Finnegan Nancy Heiss
1959 Rochester Carol Heiss Nancy Heiss Barbara Roles Lynn Finnegan
1960 Seattle Carol Heiss Barbara Roles Laurence Owen Stephanie Westerfield
1961 Colorado Springs Laurence Owen Stephanie Westerfield Rhode Lee Michelson Karen Howland
1962 Boston Barbara Roles Pursley Lorraine Hanlon Victoria Fisher Frances Gold
1963 Long Beach Lorraine Hanlon Christine Haigler Karen Howland
1964 Cleveland Peggy Fleming Albertina Noyes Christine Haigler Lorraine Hanlon
1965 Lake Placid Peggy Fleming Christine Haigler Albertina Noyes Myrna Bodek
1966 Berkeley Peggy Fleming Albertina Noyes Pamela Schneider
1967 Omaha Peggy Fleming Albertina Noyes Jennie Walsh Janet Lynn
1968 Philadelphia Peggy Fleming Albertina Noyes Janet Lynn
1969 Seattle Janet Lynn Julie Lynn Holmes Albertina Noyes Dawn Glab
1970 Tulsa Janet Lynn Julie Lynn Holmes Dawn Glab Jennie Walsh
1971 Buffalo Janet Lynn Julie Lynn Holmes Suna Murray Dawn Glab
1972 Long Beach Janet Lynn Julie Lynn Holmes Suna Murray Dorothy Hamill
1973 Minneapolis Janet Lynn Dorothy Hamill Juli McKinstry
1974 Providence Dorothy Hamill Juli McKinstry Kath Malmberg
1975 Oakland Dorothy Hamill Wendy Burge Kath Malmberg Barbie Smith
1976 Colorado Springs Dorothy Hamill Linda Fratianne Wendy Burge Kath Malmberg
1977 Hartford Linda Fratianne Barbie Smith Wendy Burge
1978 Portland Linda Fratianne Lisa-Marie Allen Priscilla Hill Carrie Rugh
1979 Cincinnati Linda Fratianne Lisa-Marie Allen Carrie Rugh Alicia Risberg
1980 Atlanta Linda Fratianne Lisa-Marie Allen Sandy Lenz Elaine Zayak
1981 San Diego Elaine Zayak Priscilla Hill Lisa-Marie Allen Rosalynn Sumners
1982 Indianapolis Rosalynn Sumners Vikki de Vries Elaine Zayak Jackie Farrell
1983 Pittsburgh Rosalynn Sumners Elaine Zayak Tiffany Chin Vikki de Vries
1984 Salt Lake City Rosalyn Sumners Tiffany Chin Elaine Zayak Jill Frost
1985 Kansas City Tiffany Chin Debi Thomas Caryn Kadavy Kathryn Adams
1986 Uniondale Debi Thomas Caryn Kadavy Tiffany Chin Tracey Damigella
1987 Tacoma Jill Trenary Debi Thomas Caryn Kadavy Tiffany Chin
1988 Denver Debi Thomas Jill Trenary Caryn Kadavy Jeri Campbell
1989 Baltimore Jill Trenary Kristi Yamaguchi Tonya Harding Holly Cook
1990 Salt Lake City Jill Trenary Kristi Yamaguchi Holly Cook Nancy Kerrigan
1991 Minneapolis Tonya Harding Kristi Yamaguchi Nancy Kerrigan Tonia Kwiatkowski
1992 Orlando Kristi Yamaguchi Nancy Kerrigan Tonya Harding Lisa Ervin
1993 Phoenix Nancy Kerrigan Lisa Ervin Tonia Kwiatkowski Tonya Harding
1994 Detroit Michelle Kwan Nicole Bobek Elaine Zayak
1995 Providence Nicole Bobek Michelle Kwan Tonia Kwiatkowski Kyoko Ina
1996 San Jose Michelle Kwan Tonia Kwiatkowski Tara Lapinksi Sydne Vogel
1997 Nashville Tara Lipinski Michelle Kwan Nicole Bobek Angela Nikodinov
1998 Philadelphia Michelle Kwan Tara Lipinski Nicole Bobek Tonia Kwiatkowski
1999 Salt Lake City Michelle Kwan Naomi Nari Nam Angela Nikodinov Sarah Hughes
2000 Cleveland Michelle Kwan Sasha Cohen Sarah Hughes Angela Nikodinov
2001 Boston Michelle Kwan Sarah Hughes Angela Nikodinov Jennifer Kirk
2002 Los Angeles Michelle Kwan Sasha Cohen Sarah Hughes Angela Nikodinov
2003 Dallas Michelle Kwan Sarah Hughes Sasha Cohen Ann Patrice McDonough
2004 Atlanta Michelle Kwan Sasha Cohen Jennifer Kirk Amber Corwin
2005 Portland Michelle Kwan Sasha Cohen Kimmie Meissner Jennifer Kirk
2006 St. Louis Sasha Cohen Kimmie Meissner Emily Hughes Katy Taylor
2007 Spokane Kimmie Meissner Emily Hughes Alissa Czisny Beatrisa Liang
2008 St. Paul Mirai Nagasu Rachael Flatt Ashley Wagner Caroline Zhang
2009 Cleveland Alissa Czisny Rachael Flatt Caroline Zhang Ashley Wagner
2010 Spokane Rachael Flatt Mirai Nagasu Ashley Wagner Sasha Cohen
2011 Greensboro Alissa Czisny Rachael Flatt Mirai Nagasu Agnes Zawadzki
2012 San Jose Ashley Wagner Alissa Czisny Agnes Zawadzki Caroline Zhang
2013 Omaha Ashley Wagner Gracie Gold Agnes Zawadzki Courtney Hicks
2014 Boston Gracie Gold Polina Edmunds Mirai Nagasu Ashley Wagner
2015 Greensboro Ashley Wagner Gracie Gold Karen Chen Polina Edmunds
2016 Saint Paul Gracie Gold Polina Edmunds Ashley Wagner Mirai Nagasu
2017 Kansas City Karen Chen Ashley Wagner Mariah Bell Mirai Nagasu
2018 San Jose
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
HONESTLY, THERE ARE JUST SO MANY PEOPLE THAT I have met and come across in my life who have helped me so much. I may not be able to thank everyone individually in the next few pages, but if you have cheered for me in any way along my ongoing journey, I just wanted to say thank you so much for your continued support. I really, truly appreciate it from the bottom of my heart.
However, if there’s anyone I need to thank first, it would be my entire family. They have been there for me when I needed them most no matter where I am and what I am doing. My parents especially; my mom, Hsiu-Hui, and my dad, Ken, have showered me with unconditional support and love that I will be eternally grateful for. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for their sacrifices; I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for their hard work and endless efforts to help support me in every unthinkable and unimaginable way. I also can’t express how much my brother has impacted my life as well. Sure we may bicker over little things, but he knows how much he means to me and I don’t know where I’d be if he had never entered my life. Also, I need to thank my aunt, Trinity, and my uncle, Steven, and of course their son, Tristan, for always cheering me up and making me laugh. Lastly, I want to send a special thank-you to my grandparents, who mean the world to me. I truly can’t express how thankful I am for my family. My entire family, even the ones I don’t see often in Taiwan, all play a significant role in my life. They all inspire me so much in a variety of ways.
I am also extremely grateful to have met Kristi Yamaguchi and to have her support in my journey. She’s everything I aspire to be, and I can’t thank her enough for everything. I am incredibly honored to be able to talk to her and have her as my mentor; and especially for agreeing to write the foreword for this book!
I would like to send a bunch of thank-yous to my coaches as well. Thank you, Crystal, for helping me discover what skating is and feels like. Thank you, Sherri, for teaching me a little bit of everything. Thank you, Gilley, for always believing in me even when I didn’t believe in myself; the amount of life lessons I learned from you are countless. And thank you so much Tammy for pushing me, helping me, and believing in me especially during these recent years. I have grown so much and will hopefully continue to do so on the ice with your guidance.
Lots of hugs to all the people who I have crossed paths with at the rink in Fremont, Riverside, and plenty of other rinks! The rink is part of me and the people who I’ve met at the rink I will never forget. You all have made training fun and enjoyable even though there were definitely some dramatic rough times for all of us. I’m s
orry I can’t individually thank each and every one of you (there are too many of you!), but the bottom line is, we all share the same interest on the ice and it’s what I’ve learned to really appreciate, so thank you so much!
There is a very special childhood friend I would like to thank individually. Claire, thank you so much for accepting my craziness and for still keeping in touch with me through all these years. Thank you especially for staying up late at night and practically getting no sleep on a weekday to cheer for me and watch me skate live at worlds in Helsinki. You’re the best!
Also, I wanted to give a quick but extremely sincere and generous thank-you to everyone at US Figure Skating for helping me to achieve the goals I set for myself. Thank you for giving me such amazing opportunities in my unpredictable skating journey.
A big hug to my agent, Yuki Sageusa at IMG, for convincing me to take this wonderful opportunity of putting my skating journey into words! I am so fortunate to have you help me manage everything and for all the effort you put in. Thank you also to Lynn Plage for handling my publicity on and off the ice.
I am also extremely thankful to have such an amazing team at HarperCollins Children’s Books to help me with this book project. Thank you, Natalie England, for putting in so much time and effort in writing this book. A very special thank-you to Sara Sargent, who gave me this opportunity and contributed so much to this book. Thank you, Jenna Stempel, for putting together such a beautiful design that we all love immensely. Thank you, Meaghan Finnerty, Cindy Hamilton, and Mitch Thorpe for playing such an important role in this whole exciting process! Lastly, thank you to Jamie Carr at WME for all of your help and coordination of this book.
And last, but not least, a beautifully huge thank-you to all those who supported me and took the time to read this book! I really, truly appreciate it from the bottom of my heart!
xoxo
PHOTO INSERT
My very first Halloween costume! And a glimpse into my future—I wore a lot of Disney clothes as a kid.
Clearly I’ve liked books since the very beginning—and now I get to write one!
Holding my baby brother, Jeffrey.
In one of my favorite places—my grandma’s garden in Taiwan—and proud to have picked a turnip! I’m wearing yellow boots because it rains so much in Taiwan that it’s always really muddy.
All smiles because I’m on the ice. I loved to flash the peace sign when I was a kid (you’ll notice a theme in some of the other photos).
Skating in Taiwan and practicing a spiral. Check out my knee pads! I was always padded up.
Can’t remember why I was sitting on the ice . . . I’d probably fallen. At least I’m still smiling! I always thought it was hilarious when I fell as a little skater.
Jeffrey and me. Notice, again, the peace sign (two this time!). He wore a helmet, but I refused so that people could see my hair. I always loved doing my hair in pigtails.
Dressed as the princess from Sleeping Beauty and holding one of my first trophies after a local competition in San Francisco.
Happy and posing for pictures with my dad. We’d just gotten home from a Christmas skating show.
Jeffrey, Mom, and me in front of the Christmas tree in our childhood home in Hayward, California.
My dad’s mother and me standing on a bridge in Taiwan.
My dad’s father with Jeffrey and me. That’s our front yard in Hayward.
Fishing in Taiwan. I loved playing with the nets. Usually I only caught stones and pebbles: I saw plenty of fish, but was never fast enough to catch them. I spent more time getting pebbles out of my net than I did actually fishing!
With my coaches, Gilley Nicholson and Sherri Krahne-Thomas, at the 2012 US Championships in San Jose, California. I won the novice title!
Jeffrey and me, also at Nationals in San Jose. See his green bag? He brought his Nintendo DS for when he was bored watching skating. ☺
Our local skating club was invited to skate during the opening ceremonies at Nationals in San Jose. Jeffrey skated, too! Afterward, we posed in a photo booth wearing team jackets. It was very exciting to try one on.
Visiting my mom’s family in Taiwan.
Top row, left to right: Dad, Mom, Jeffrey, cousin Kyle.
Bottom row, left to right: Uncle Steven and Aunt Trinity, my mom’s younger sister; she’s holding their son, my cousin Tristan (they now live in California, so I see them all the time); Grandpa; Grandma; me; Uncle Julian, my mom’s brother; and his wife, Aunt Emily. My grandpa is holding Julian and Emily’s son, Luis.
My mom, me, and my mom’s parents at the 2015 Audi Cup of China. It was my first international Grand Prix competition in China, and I was so excited my grandparents traveled from Taiwan to see me skate.
Jeffrey and me goofing around outside our house in Riverside, California.
My coach, Tammy Gambill, and me in the “kiss and cry” area after a national competition.
Jeffrey and I skated together for a Christmas show in Santa Barbara in 2015. We skated to “Anything You Can Do” . . . I can do better!
Enjoying family time. Jeffrey loves taking pictures of wildlife and birds. What better backdrop than the Golden Gate Bridge?
Jeffrey and me after a Christmas show in Santa Barbara in 2016.
My friends at Sharks Ice in Fremont, California, threw a party for me after I won Nationals in 2017. I was so excited Kristi Yamaguchi could be there!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo courtesy of the author
KAREN CHEN is an American figure skater. She was the 2017 US national champion, placing fourth at the 2017 World Championships. She also holds a bronze medal from the 2015 US National Championships and two bronze medals from the ISU Challenger Series. Karen was born in Fremont, California, and has been skating since 2005. This is her debut.
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CREDITS
Cover photographs by Joosep Martinson / Getty Images
Cover design and lettering by Jenna Stempel
COPYRIGHT
Glossary of figure skating terms courtesy of US Figure Skating and the International Skating Union
Silhouettes by denniro and mr.Timmi / Shutterstock Images
Photos courtesy of the author
FINDING THE EDGE: MY LIFE ON THE ICE. Copyright © 2017 by Karen Chen. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
www.harpercollinschildrens.com
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ISBN 978-0-06-282268-0
EPub Edition © November 2017 ISBN 9780062822789
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FIRST EDITION
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