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Skaters

Christina Gao

Born:

March 7, 1994

Birthplace:

Cincinnati, Ohio

Height:

5' 5"

Level:

Senior

Hometown:

Cincinnati, Ohio

School:

Sycamore High School (2012)

College:

Harvard University (2016)

Training Town:

Boston

Club:

Skating Club of Boston

Coach:

Mark Mitchell and Peter Johansson

Choreographer:

Mark Mitchell (SP), David Wilson (FS)

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS

*2009 U.S. junior bronze medalist
*2009 Junior Grand Prix Final bronze medalist

SKATING NOTES

Began skating at age 7 when her parents signed her up for learn-to-skate classes ... Participated in the Basic Skills Program in 2001.

PERSONAL NOTES

Father, Chang, was a junior national badminton champion in China ... Mother is WeiHong ... Both parents work for Proctor and Gamble ... Has a cat named Poptart ... Was a National Merit Finalist ... Named to the 2012 U.S. Figure Skating Scholastic Honors Team.

CONNECT WITH ME

Twitter.com: @christina_gao

IN MY WORDS

If I wasn't a figure skater ... I'd be a student. I also like to dance, although I'm not too great at it. I've always wanted to try ballroom dancing.

My favorite thing about being a figure skater is ... competing. I love the feeling after performing a great program. I also like to see friends and catch up at the competitions.

I look up to ... my parents. They are strong and amazing people who have taught me many great life lessons and shaped me to be who I am today. They have dealt with me through the good times and the bad!

After I'm done skating, I want to ... be a doctor.

My figure skating hero is ... Michelle Kwan. There are no words to describe how amazing she is.

The best moment of my figure skating career thus far was ... skating at the 2012 U.S. Championships in San Jose, Calif.. I struggled earlier in the season but I was happy to pull out a strong performance there.

I always ... put my left skate on first.

I manage my pre-skate jitters by ... playing games on my iPod. I always get addicted to one game at a competition and play it over and over again. I played Fruit Ninja at Cup of China, Temple Run at the U.S. Championships and Minesweeper at the World Junior Championships.

MY FAVORITES

Way to condition off-ice: Running

Skating maneuver: Double Axel

Olympic sports: Gymnastics, diving

Way to relax: Reading

Books: To Kill a Mockingbird, The Kite Runner, Mind Gym

Things to do on a day off: Eat, sleep, read

Foods: Fruit, steamed vegetables, fries

Beverage: Water

I PREFER

Gloves or No Gloves

Short Program or Free Skate

Homecooking or Restaurant

E-Reader or Book

Rental or Theater

Spin or Jump

Trail or Treadmill

Pre-competition nap? Yes

PAST SEASON NOTES

2013 Season Notes
SP Music: "Close Without Touching" by Kostia
FS Music: "Libertango" by Astor Piazzolla
2012 Season Notes
SP Music: "Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto" by Felix Mendelssohn
FS Music: "Libertango" by Astor Piazzolla

Costumes designed by Josiane Lamond
2011 Season Notes
SP Music: "Violin Concerto in E minor" by Felix Mendelssohn
FS Music: "Yellow River Concerto" by various artists
2010 Season Notes
SP Music: "Morning Passages" by Philip Glass from the soundtrack of The Hours
FS Music: Music from the ballet La Fille Mal Gardee by Ferdinand Herold

Costumes designed by Josiane Lamond
2009 Season Notes
SP Music: "Liza's Dance" from the Stepping Out soundtrack
FS Music: Richard Bonynge's "Paquita" performed by the English Concert Orchestra

IJS Personal Bests

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

U.S. QUALIFYING COMPETITION

Four Continents ladies FS Watch
Four Continents ladies SP Watch
U.S. Champs senior ladies FS (skaters 5-20) Watch
Interview - Christina Gao Watch
Interview - Christina Gao Watch
U.S. Champs senior ladies SP Watch
GP Final ladies FS Watch
GP Final ladies SP Watch
Bompard ladies FS Watch
Bompard ladies SP Watch