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COURMAYEUR -- Tucked in a ski resort town with fewer than 3,000 residents on the French border, away from the distractions of Michelle Kwan's departure and Emily Hughes' arrival, Kimmie Meissner has found peace and pizza.
Two hours and 897,000 residents away, the hustle and haze of Torino swirls around Winter Olympic medal contenders. At the Forum Sport Center, however, Meissner, 16, drills through jumps and spins -- on a quiet quest to add to the string of U.S. medal surprises delivered by Sarah Hughes and Tara Lipinski.
"I definitely feel like part of the Olympics," Meissner said Thursday, smiling as she tugged at her U.S. warm-up top when asked about being so far away from the Games. "I've got all the gear on."
In Courmayeur, skiers rest in the warm, wood-trimmed, ice complex restaurant. Most are oblivious to Meissner, who only draws slight notice walking out after a practice with a pair of armed Italian policeman waiting. The world is only beginning to know Meissner, the youngest U.S. Olympian who trains at the University of Delaware.
"Every day, she's skating better and better and getting more confident," says Pam Gregory, Meissner's coach. "She's truly having fun all the time on the ice."
There certainly have been sacrifices for a teenager trying to become the best in the world.
"You've got to give up some things to compete at an elite level," Judy Meissner says. "But she's such a well-rounded kid and it's her decision. If she came up tomorrow and said she wanted to give it up, that would be it."
Hughes update: Hughes arrived in Torino on Thursday and attended the men's free skate, U.S. Figure Skating spokesperson Lindsay DeWall said. She will practice Friday.
Hughes, the younger sister of 2002 gold medalist Sarah Hughes, is replacing Kwan, who withdrew with an injury. The women's competition is Tuesday and Feb. 23.
Miller also writes for The Des Moines Register
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