Ashley Wagner
Figure Skating - Singles
2010 Olympic hopeful
Personal Specs
Height: 5'3"
Coach: Priscilla Hill
Short List Performance
- 2008 U.S. Championships bronze medalist
- 2009 U.S. Championships - fourth
- Two-time World Junior Championships bronze medalist (2007, 2009)
- 2009 World Junior Championships bronze medalist
- 2008 World Championships - 16th
- Ranked No. 14 in the ISU World Standings as of May 2009
Vancouver Watch
Wagner has been on the cusp of breaking through for the last few years. As she transitions into more senior competitions, she will have to elevate her skating to keep her Olympic hopes alive for 2010. A disappointing short program at the 2009 U.S. Championships put her in 12th place, but she rallied, finishing first in the free skate, to pull up to fourth overall. Now that the U.S. women will only have two spots at the Winter Games for the first time since 1994, it will be even tougher to qualify.
Personal
Born in Germany, Wagner moved nine times growing up and began skating in Alaska at age 5. Her mother said she could do skating lessons or a ballet class, and Wagner chose figure skating because "I never liked the pink tutus." Wagner fell in love with the Olympic Winter Games while watching TV coverage of Tara Lipinski winning the gold in Nagano in 1998. Her mom is an elementary school teacher, and her younger brother, Austin, is a developing figure skater. Her hobbies include reading and running, but she most loves her German Wirehaired Pointer, Millie. Eventually, Wagner would like to be involved in public relations or commentating.
Did You Know...?
- Lists her favorite food as French fries
- Born on a U.S. Army Base in Heidelberg, Germany, where her father, an Army lieutenant colonel, was stationed
- Has lived in Germany, California, Alaska, Kansas, Washington and Virginia
- Began skating in a mother-daughter class and was outperforming her mom by the second lesson while wearing a helmet to protect her from falling