Sylvia
07-12-2012, 04:22 PM
http://www.ifsmagazine.com/articles/32496-clara-peters-on-the-edge-of-a-dream
In the fall of 2008 Peters made her international debut at two Junior Grand Prix events in Spain and the Czech Republic.
When she stepped onto the ice at the 2009 Europeans, she made history by becoming the first Irish skater to participate in an International Skating Union championship. It was the fulfilment of her childhood dreams.
“It was an incredible feeling. I don’t think it has even sunk in yet. It was something that I’d always dreamed of when I was a little girl. At school when we were asked to write where we saw ourselves in 10 years. My classmates wrote that they wanted to be a ballerina, doctor, garda (Irish police officer) or an astronaut. I wrote: ‘I want to represent Ireland at Europeans and Worlds.’
“To look back and be able to say ‘I’ve done that’ is indescribable. To be on the ice representing my country is an amazing thing and it is something few people get to experience.”
While she has already achieved so much as a skater, the ultimate goal remains — to be the first figure skater from Ireland to compete at the Winter Olympic Games — and Peters knows next season will be very important in her pursuit of that objective.
“I don’t remember not wanting to skate. I don’t remember not wanting to be at the Olympics representing Ireland. The two have gone hand in hand and I’m getting the chance to do that. The qualifiers this season are the World Championships in Canada and one next season and I’m putting everything into it to accomplish my dreams,” she said.
...
Adapting to a new country and lifestyle have presented their own challenges. “I have been in the States six and a half years and I still would say I haven’t quite adapted. I go to the rink Monday to Friday. I’m training so I don’t really experience the true lifestyle.
"The food is very different. In the early years I convinced my gran to send me teabags and chocolate.”
In the fall of 2008 Peters made her international debut at two Junior Grand Prix events in Spain and the Czech Republic.
When she stepped onto the ice at the 2009 Europeans, she made history by becoming the first Irish skater to participate in an International Skating Union championship. It was the fulfilment of her childhood dreams.
“It was an incredible feeling. I don’t think it has even sunk in yet. It was something that I’d always dreamed of when I was a little girl. At school when we were asked to write where we saw ourselves in 10 years. My classmates wrote that they wanted to be a ballerina, doctor, garda (Irish police officer) or an astronaut. I wrote: ‘I want to represent Ireland at Europeans and Worlds.’
“To look back and be able to say ‘I’ve done that’ is indescribable. To be on the ice representing my country is an amazing thing and it is something few people get to experience.”
While she has already achieved so much as a skater, the ultimate goal remains — to be the first figure skater from Ireland to compete at the Winter Olympic Games — and Peters knows next season will be very important in her pursuit of that objective.
“I don’t remember not wanting to skate. I don’t remember not wanting to be at the Olympics representing Ireland. The two have gone hand in hand and I’m getting the chance to do that. The qualifiers this season are the World Championships in Canada and one next season and I’m putting everything into it to accomplish my dreams,” she said.
...
Adapting to a new country and lifestyle have presented their own challenges. “I have been in the States six and a half years and I still would say I haven’t quite adapted. I go to the rink Monday to Friday. I’m training so I don’t really experience the true lifestyle.
"The food is very different. In the early years I convinced my gran to send me teabags and chocolate.”