Tara Lipinsky has done it all
World-class skater at 14, gold medalist at 15, two books now chronicle her life.
“The 1990s can appropriately be called the decade of the overachieving teenager—and for good reason. Teens have been enjoying success in everything from music to movies to sports. In keeping with this recent trend, accomplished figure skater Tara Lipinski is joining the likes of country singer LeAnn Rimes, actress Jennifer Love Hewitt, and gymnast Dominique Moceanu, on her way to becoming one of a handful of celebrity teenagers.
“I guess I just knew I loved skating the minute I stepped on the ice,” said Lipinski who started roller skating at age three and moved on to figure skating at the age of six. “It’s so much fun to perform for your fans.
Lipinski, now 16, made headlines during the 1996-97 season when she became the youngest ladies U.S. figure skating champion in history. She went on to set a new record by becoming the ladies world figure skating champion at the age of 14. It was at the Winter Olympics in Nagano that she again made ice skating history by sailing away with the gold at age 15.
She loved the Olympics
“The Olympics was a very enjoyable experience for me,” she recalled. “I met all of the different athletes and hung out at the Village. I never really had doubts about winning at the Olympics. Most of the time I felt like it was going to happen.”
The young skater out of Sugar Land, Texas is best known for her trademark triple loop-triple loop combination (she was the first skater—male or female—to land the difficult jump in competition), her strong, well-executed performances, and her outgoing personality. “I went to the Oscars and the Grammys this year and got to meet Robin Williams, Brad Pitt, Winona Ryder, Matt Damon, Cher, Madonna… It was really a lot of fun just to be there,” she said.
In 1997, Lipinski was named the United States Olympic Committee’s Sportswomen of 1997 by Conde Nast Sports for Women magazine and was selected by Ladies Home Journal and CBS to be one of the year’s most fascinating women.
“Everything around me has changed,” confided the 4’11” Lipinski of her newfound fame. “You get recognized by many people and you get to make a lot more appearances, but I feel like I’m still the same person.”
She turned pro to have time with family
Lipinski, who currently trains at the Detroit Training Club under the direction of coaches Craig Maurizi and Megan Faulkner, made the decision to turn professional shortly after the Olympic games. “I really did feel like I made the right choice,” she said. “It was the only way that I could continue to skate without splitting my family. Now I have more time to spend with my family and friends because I don’t have to train as much.”
She made her first appearance as a professional skater in the Skate TV Championships held in April. There, Lipinski won the gold medal, beating out such top competitors as Katarina Witt and Oksana Baiul.
When she is not skating for stadium-packed crowds, Lipinski enjoys shopping for shoes, vacationing in Disney World, visiting coffee shops and hanging out with her best friend, Erin Elbe of San Francisco.
She still finds time for fun
While many people may think that she is missing out on all of the things being a teen since she has become an overnight celebrity, Lipinski disagrees. “The skaters and I are like a big family. We go places together—to parties and to meet new people. I mean, I’d rather go to a Vanity Fair party than a high school prom.”
Adds Lipinski’s mom, Patricia, “Tara loves visiting the ocean every city she travels to. She’s always going to see the boardwalks and the different attractions.”
Lipinski has also been involved in many worthwhile projects off the ice. She now has two books in print—Totally Tara, An Olympic Journey and Triumph on Ice, An Autobiography. Lipinski, who says that her role models have always been Kurt Browning, Scott Hamilton and Kristi Yamaguchi, has suddenly become a role model herself for kids from across the country. Recently named a national spokesperson for the Boys and Girls Club of America, she is known to regularly visit children’s hospitals whenever possible, in hopes of motivating and inspiring youths.
“I think Tara’s a really good person for kids everywhere to look up to,” said 12-year-old Beth Crowell of Palos Verde. “I love to watch her skate. I think it’s really cool how she can do all of the different jumps.”
Eleven-year old Carlye DeHaven of Sherman Oaks agreed. “I like the way she ice skates. She makes everything look so easy. She’s also very pretty and she knows how to make skating interesting and a lot of fun to watch.”
It has been said that the quality of individuals is reflected in the standards they set for themselves; for Lipinksi, these standards are to work hard, make goals, and believe in oneself. One of her most dynamic skating programs is skated to music called “At the Beginning,” and as the song says, ‘life is a road, now and forever, wonderful journey.’ “