Sun coverage: Kimmie Meissner
Coverage of the Bel Air figure skater
February 12, 2010
Meissner recalls thrill of thinking, 'I'm an Olympian'
Four years ago, Kimmie Meissner marched in the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Turin, at 16 the youngest member of the U.S. team.
3:55 AM EST, January 29, 2010
Kimmie Meissner wants to compete again
When Kimmie Meissner filled out her first job application recently, she paused when she reached the line that asked for her employment history. She finally wrote: Team USA, 2002 to present.
June 21, 2009
Meissner hopes new instructor helps artistic side shine through
The newest member of Kimmie Meissner's coaching team is a free spirit who cheerfully concedes that he knows nothing of figure skating, travels the country in a clunker Jeep with a bungee-corded tarp for a roof and 260,000 on the odometer, and keeps his clothes in a waterproof plastic box.
January 19, 2009
Injured Meissner to miss nationals
A hip injury has forced 2006 world and 2007 national champion Kimmie Meissner to withdraw from this week's U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Cleveland.
November 1, 2008
Meissner can get her edge back
Time to push the panic button? Time to buy Kimmie Meissner a gold retirement watch and thank her for her service to figure skating?
October 27, 2008
From the beginning, it falls apart for Meissner
There was no America in Skate America this year on the women's side of the ticket.
October 26, 2008
Meissner in sixth
Moments after her first performance of the new Grand Prix season, Kimmie Meissner was already looking forward to her next.
October 25, 2008
Skate America
Rejuvenated Meissner eyes climb ahead
Kimmie Meissner has taken a shine to a rock climbing wall near her training home in South Florida. She loves to push herself higher as she runs the high school stadium steps after a day on the ice. She finds peace in hoisting herself into the saddle for horseback rides in a neighborhood park.
October 24, 2008
Sliding up in importance
In recent years, Skate America, one of six stops on the annual Grand Prix figure skating circuit, has been held in third-tier cities barely able to attract a respectable-sized crowd. This year, it's in a community of 102,000, a half-hour north of Seattle.
April 2, 2008
Baltimore Exhibition
Meissner returns to home ice
Kimmie Meissner has a message for her friends in Bel Air who haven't seen her since late January.
March 22, 2008
More twists, turns ahead
After a season that started with a win, bottomed out in January and regained some altitude with a seventh-place finish at the World Figure Skating Championships this week, what does Kimmie Meissner do now?
March 21, 2008
World Championships
Meissner falls, ends up 7th
Figure skater Ashley Wagner summed it up best: "It's a lot harder than it looks."
March 20, 2008
World Figure Skating Championships
No-spill performance for Meissner
GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN // When her short program was over yesterday, Kimmie Meissner smiled the smile of a champion, a smile few had seen in more than a year.
March 19, 2008
Might as well jump
GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN // Richard Callaghan has no idea why Kimmie Meissner lost her way -- and her U.S. and world figure skating titles -- over the past year.
March 18, 2008
World Championships
Meissner's confidence jumps
The beginning of Kimmie Meissner's spiral from the pinnacle of figure skating began, cruelly enough, two years ago after she was crowned world champion.
February 10, 2008
Growing up, falling down
There are no figures in women's figure skating. Kimmie Meissner is finding that out the hard way.
February 5, 2008
Ins and outs of coaching
New spin for Meissner
With six weeks to go before the World Figure Skating Championships, Kimmie Meissner has dropped her longtime coach in favor of one she hopes will provide a quick fix.
January 27, 2008
U.S. Figure Skating Championships
Falling hard
Kimmie Meissner looked nothing like the young woman who rocketed to the top of the figure skating world two years ago.
January 26, 2008
U.S. Women
Meissner must play catch-up in long program
In basketball, a 12-point lead can disappear in four trips down the floor.
January 25, 2008
Meissner slips up
Perhaps a young competitor best summed up the opening night of the U.S. women's figure skating championships.
January 24, 2008
U.S. Championships
Curry's state of grace
He is mostly a memory, his grace and artistry lost to recent generations of figure skaters.
January 23, 2008
U.S. Championships
Meissner retooling for a repeat
She medaled at two international competitions this season and is the reigning U.S. figure skating champion.
December 13, 2007
Meissner figures odds just right
Add steely nerved gambler to the list of words that can be used to define Kimmie Meissner.
November 14, 2007
2010 Olympics, world title figure in skaters' rivalry
As matchups go, this could be the season's grandest of Grand Prix series events, a figure skating competition with crystal ball potential for this year and beyond.
October 29, 2007
Meissner glides to title
Kimmie Meissner beat the world champion and the world junior champion and survived the judges who decided to enforce the scoring system yesterday to earn the gold medal at Skate America.
October 28, 2007
Meissner grabs lead in short program
The present and future of U.S. women's figure skating sit in first and third place after the short program at Skate America, the first Grand Prix event of the season.
October 24, 2007
Fresh start for Meissner
On her way to Toronto recently to work with her choreographer for the new figure skating season that begins this week, Kimmie Meissner stopped at the border crossing. A guard asked the U.S. champion the reason for the visit.
August 24, 2007
Figure skating
Routine operation
With a new season on the horizon, U.S. figure skating champion Kimmie Meissner is channeling her inner Michelle Kwan.
March 25, 2007
Meissner gets 4th at worlds
It has been a whirlwind year on and off the ice for Kimmie Meissner, who gained a title and lost a title while establishing herself as one of the world's elite figure skaters.
March 24, 2007
Figure skating
Meissner needs a leap
Going into today's long program at the World Figure Skating Championships, Kimmie Meissner finds herself in a familiar spot: behind.
March 23, 2007
Autograph is Meissner's new signature move
TOKYO // It can take Kimmie Meissner nearly a half-hour to walk the two blocks from the Meiji Jingo practice rink to the main venue at the municipal gymnasium.
8:04 AM EDT, March 21, 2007
Online exclusive
Meissner's title defense starts with home cooking
So, what does a world champion eat when she's on the road?
March 21, 2007
Kimmie's right-hand man
"Dear Mr. Jim O'Toole," the letter begins, "thank you very much for shooting Kimmie Meissner at your school."
February 12, 2007
Event brings more than gold
So what was the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships worth to the top U.S. man and woman?
February 11, 2007
Spinning gold again
Kimmie Meissner proved yesterday why she's the reigning world and national champion, coming from sixth place to win the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships.
February 10, 2007
Meissner might give axel a spin
Make no mistake, Kimmie Meissner would rather be skating an exhibition tonight than sitting in some fancy restaurant or indulging in a rare chocolate treat.
February 9, 2007
Meissner falls, escapes
The thin air and sparse crowd seemed to take the wind out of Kimmie Meissner's sails during her short program last night at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships.
February 8, 2007
Spinning to stop in Colorado fits Meissner's routine
It stands to reason that Kimmie Meissner's unconventional rise to the top of women's figure skating might include some unplanned stops.
February 7, 2007
Brighter spotlight
Thirty-one years ago this month, Dorothy Hamill felt the weight of Olympic gold around her neck as she stood on the podium in Innsbruck, Austria.
January 31, 2007
Skater's career takes a big leap
Three days after winning the U.S. Figure Skating Championship, Kimmie Meissner of Bel Air has agreed to three major endorsement deals and an ice show tour.
January 28, 2007
U.S. Skating Championships
Meissner leans into U.S. crown
SPOKANE, Wash. // By stumbling forward instead of falling backward on her opening jump, Kimmie Meissner of Bel Air won the U.S. Figure Skating Championships yesterday and completed her set of medals from the event.
January 26, 2007
Handily, Meissner grabs the lead
It's hard to follow a standing ovation, but last night Kimmie Meissner did just that and grabbed the lead at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
January 24, 2007
Meissner pursues national prize
With bronze and silver medals already at home in Maryland, Kimmie Meissner will try to complete the set this week at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
January 21, 2007
Meissner's music attuned to family
A fringed black shawl with embroidered pink rose is draped across Kimmie Meissner's lap. A lacy mantilla rests on her shoulders.
November 19, 2006
Meissner finishes 3rd in Paris
South Korean teenager Kim Yu Na held off American world champion Kimmie Meissner of Bel Air to win the women's event yesterday at the Trophee Bompard in Paris.
November 16, 2006
Paris no treat for Meissner
Last month, Japan's Miki Ando beat countrywoman Mao Asada and Kimmie Meissner in figure skating's first Grand Prix event of the season.
October 29, 2006
Figure skating
Meissner jumps to silver
HARTFORD, Conn. // One night after a sublime performance at Skate America that brought the house down and vaulted her into first place, Japanese teen figure skating sensation Mao Asada proved beatable.
October 28, 2006
Meissner 3rd after 1st round
HARTFORD, Conn. // For the first time in seven months, Kimmie Meissner experienced the adrenaline rush of competition and renewed attention of the figure skating world.
October 27, 2006
Meissner set to jump-start season
HARTFORD, Conn. Last year, in her first season on the elite international circuit, Kimmie Meissner wanted her on-ice performances to show maturity.
September 3, 2006
Commentary
Rick Maese: No skating around it: I can't match Meissner
Kimmie Meissner just might be the strongest human being on the face of the planet.
June 15, 2006
Banding together for kids
More than all the beribboned nuggets of gold, silver and bronze stacked in her bedroom, Kimmie Meissner is proudest of the band of red, white and blue that envelops her slender wrist.
June 14, 2006
Meissner will take new moves for spin
After a season that included winning the world figure skating championship and finishing sixth at the Olympics, Kimmie Meissner is ready to start over.
March 28, 2006
Worlds win gives Meissner jump on earning potential
The title "world champion" implies that one can't do a whole lot better.
March 27, 2006
Skater's routine is about to change
Kimmie Meissner concluded her first season skating among the sport's elite in spectacular fashion, and she'll now turn her attention to the next big event on her calendar: the school prom.
March 26, 2006
Meissner clinches world skating title
Her smile stretched from one end of the rink to the other, and hundreds of young girls excitedly shrieked her name: "Kimmie! Kimmie!" The screams bounced off the rafters.
March 25, 2006
Meissner in position for podium
CALGARY, Alberta // When Kimmie Meissner returned home from the Olympics a month ago, her right eardrum had ruptured. It bled, and she could barely hear out of it.
March 24, 2006
Meissner's growth spurt
Kimmie Meissner didn't bring a medal home from the Olympics, but she brought something that feels nearly as important. And this week, for the first time, she is finally able to test her newfound confidence on competitive ice.
March 23, 2006
Figure Skating
Meissner records her best
The World Figure Skating Championships in Calgary, Alberta, have gotten off to a good start for Kimmie Meissner. She posted a personal-best score in qualifying last night, leaving her in second place heading into tomorrow's short program.
March 4, 2006
Bel Air throws parade for skater
She was ushered through the heart of her hometown as adoring fans snapped her picture and screamed her name, and she later listened as a bevy of elected officials sang her praises and handed her enough proclamations, gift baskets and bouquets to fill a wheelbarrow.
February 26, 2006
Back to normal, but not for long
Competing in the Olympics may have been the easy part for Kimmie Meissner.
February 25, 2006
Turin Olympics
Her positive spin
When she walks into the Olympic Stadium tomorrow night for the closing ceremony, Kimmie Meissner will have something more valuable than her sixth-place finish as a souvenir.
February 24, 2006
Figure skating
Meissner 6th and satisfied
When others fell, Shizuka Arakawa did not, allowing the Japanese skater to win her country's first medal at these Olympics and avert a Russian sweep of the figure skating events.
February 24, 2006
Rick Maese: Meissner rings up useful experience
As Sasha Cohen stood on a podium and felt 20 ounces of silver pulling at her neck, David Raith was talking about the future. Raith is the executive director of U.S. Figure Skating. You bet he's excited about Cohen's finish, but his hope comes from scanning further down the leader board.
February 24, 2006
Analysis
Rising to the top
The judges for the Winter Olympics women's figure skating competition got it right. What fun is that?
February 24, 2006
Tracking Meissner
Despite the furious clicks and reclicks on the "refresh" button of an Internet browser, it seemed to take hours for the news from Italy to flicker onto the computer screen in the office of St. Ignatius Church in Bel Air, where members of the staff were anxious to learn how parishioner Kimmie Meissner fared.
February 24, 2006
Meissner holds title in classy costuming
So she flubbed her first triple flip, and her triple Lutz - according to NBC Web site commentators - suffered from "an awkward, tilted landing."
February 23, 2006
Turin Olympics
Meissner keeps a sharp edge
From the time Kimmie Meiss- ner skated her short program Tuesday night to the time she found out she finished in fifth place, "it felt like I competed days ago," she said.
February 23, 2006
Turin Olympics
Olympic fever hits ice
The air was cold and the stands empty in the Columbia Ice Rink yesterday afternoon as a handful of young skaters spread out across the ice and practiced the fundamentals of their sport: digging in a toe pick for a jump, holding arms in the correct position for a spin, trying again and again to leap into the air and land gracefully on one blade.
February 23, 2006
Rick Maese: As Meissner glows, Cohen's a no-show
Her medal hopes ahead of her, the Skating Surprise pulled her luggage behind her.
February 23, 2006
Kevin Cowherd: Class acts amid the meltdowns in the Olympics
Sasha Cohen, Kimmie Meissner and Emily Hughes aside, it's easy to think of these Winter Olympics as another depressing reality show, only without a lot of bad singing or Donald Trump and his lacquered hair reducing some poor apprentice to tears.
February 23, 2006
Meissner, Games win ratings gold in Baltimore
Call it the Kimmie Factor, because no one has a better explanation for what happened Tuesday in the ratings battle between NBC's Winter Olympics and Fox's American Idol except the presence of 16-year-old skater Kimmie Meissner of Bel Air.
February 21, 2006
Turin Olympics
It figures: Harford goes into frenzy over skater
For the Olympian from Bel Air, Jeff Kappus shipped a good luck bag of carrots.
February 21, 2006
Turin Olympics
Meissner's agenda: fun, clean program
Kimmie Meissner must be channeling Nancy Kerrigan.
February 21, 2006
Harford's sporting distinction
Harford County is known for suburban sprawl, military munitions and hand-carved ducks.
February 21, 2006
Delaware club churns out ice champions
How large and powerful is the skating club that helped turn Kimmie Meissner into an Olympian?
February 20, 2006
Turin Olympics
Two young friends, forever dreaming
Back then, it was just two girls sitting on a bed, each with a dream beating deep inside.
February 20, 2006
Turin Olympics
Just say Meissner has arrived
Kimmie Meissner got gold-medal questions yesterday at a downtown news conference.
February 17, 2006
Turin Olympics
Off ice, Meissner doesn't skate around questions
The contrast could not have been more stark.
February 11, 2006
Turin Olympics
Awed Meissner takes in Turin
On the first day of the Winter Olympics, Kimmie Meissner met Laura Bush and heard Luciano Pavarotti and Peter Gabriel sing and Yoko Ono give a reading. But the person she was talking about after last night's opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium was a U.S. women's hockey player, Kim Insalaco.
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