Rachael Flatt gets some golden insight

Two-time U.S. ladies silver medalist Rachael Flatt has had the most consistent international record among U.S. women over the past two seasons, and she's looking to take it up a notch.

Flatt is the only senior medalist from 2008 to return to the national podium in 2009. After winning the world junior ladies title in '08, this year, her first season on the Senior Grand Prix, Flatt placed fourth at Skate America and won the silver medal at Cup of Russia. She will make her world championships debut in Los Angeles in March and has her sights firmly set on the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

Helping Flatt work toward her on-ice goals is 1976 Olympic gold medalist and world champion Dorothy Hamill, who will be serving as a mentor. At press time, the two had begun talking on the phone and sending text messages.

"I'm thrilled and honored to be working with a legend like Dorothy," Flatt said. "Her bubbly personality and endearing smile touched millions of Americans in a way I can only help to emulate. Dorothy is an amazing role model and I look forward to learning from her experience of handling the pressure of being 'America's Sweetheart.'"

Despite her daily commitment to training and her travel schedule, Flatt is also consistently achieving academic excellence at the highest level. Currently a junior with an A average at Cheyenne Mountain High School in Colorado Springs, Colo., Flatt is taking Advanced Placement courses in chemistry, English and biology and honors courses in French and calculus. She is also studying U.S. government and world geography. With her coursework unweighted, she is first in her class of 336.

Flatt has been taking AP courses since her sophomore year. For her senior year, she is already planning to take AP physics, English, French and calculus. It appears she will be following her parents into the science field. Her father is a biochemical engineer and her mother is a molecular biologist.