PROVO, Utah — As Salt Lake City celebrates the 20th anniversary since hosting the 2002 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, one of its venues gave people the chance to give their Olympic best on the ice.
Peaks Ice Arena in Provo hosted a a special “Skate like an Olympian” event Saturday, extending public skate hours and offering a trip down memory lane.
The arena set up an area filled with Olympic memorabilia, and projected highlights from the 2002 Games onto the ice.
Skaters young and old could pretend they just won Gold at a podium photo booth with props, and score raffle prizes and goodie bags.
Three girls lined up next to the ice, waiting for the free skate event to start.
Cozette Fung, 14, Amelia Dunn, 12 and Madeline Penafiel, 10 compete in ice skating competitions.
They said they come to Peaks Ice Arena several times a week to practice, and see each other so often the feel like sisters.
This week has been a big one in the ice-skating community as the entire world pays attention to the sport they love.
“Nathan Chen’s programs, they’re so good,” Cozette said with excitement.
“His free skate, I’ve watched at least three times,” Amelia said.
Madeline has also watched Chen’s programs back a few times.
“Yeah. I love his Rocket Man program,” she said.
Not only do they have a Utah ice skating idol to look up to, but the rink they practice in several times a week has a pretty cool backstory — being one of the venues for the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic and Paralympic Games.
While the trio may not have been alive to have the memories from that time, they do have the appreciation for the history.
“I wish I were there,” Cozette said laughing. “But I’m glad everyone’s just bringing back the memories, so I can know about it.”
And these girls also have the passion as they pursue their dreams for the future.
“I can do anything,” Madeline said, adding, “And that maybe I might do that one day.”
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