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| | Monday, April 3 Q & A with Kyoko Ina and John Zimmerman | ||||||
Reigning U.S. Nationals Pairs Champions Kyoko Ina and John Zimmerman have trained hard all season for the 2000 World Figure Skating Championships. Kyoko and John gave what they described as the performance of their lives in the free skate to win their first National title this year in Cleveland, OH. Ina and Zimmerman took time out to speak with ABC Sports on their way to Nice, France.
John: I was excited. It has been something that I've wanted to do for a long time. The win is more special because Kyoko and I have really gone through a lot of hard work this past year. We had a great time together. Kyoko: Winning anything is always exciting. We are glad to capitalize on the moment and come through with a good performance. ABC Sports: Do you have Olympic ambitions?John: Absolutely. That is our major focus, the primary goal. Everything leading up to that is a stepping stone. Kyoko: After every achievement, there is always another one. There is never an end to dreams, goals and what you want to accomplish. ABC Sports: How do you feel going into this year's World Championships as opposed to last year?Kyoko: I believe that we are a lot more prepared this year than we were last year. Last year, we didn't know what to expect at all. This year we know what we are capable of doing. John: It has been a really long season for us, so we are not going to take anything for granted, working very hard, hoping to repeat what we just did at Nationals. ABC Sports: What brought figure skating into your life?John: For me, when I was four years old in Montgomery, Ala., my mother was looking to give me something to do on a Saturday afternoon. Of all the places and things to do, I started in a mall figure skating ring. I did do other things, but figure skating was what I stuck with. Kyoko: Like all little kids in New York City I started skating in Rockerfeller Center. ABC Sports: How did the both of you come about competing together as a pair?John: Well Kyoko and I competed against each other a couple of times. I didn't have a partner and after the Olympics, Kyoko dissolved her former partnership. One thing led to another and we felt we could try and work together. Our coaches felt like there was something there and we felt the same way. Even though it didn't stand right out at first, we knew that we had a lot of ambition and could work together. ABC Sports: What was the most special moment for you in your figure skating career?Kyoko: The Olympics were absolutely amazing. The second one was competing in my birth country, [Japan]. John: I would say it would have to be the very first time making the World team and winning the U.S. Championships this year. ABC Sports: What motivates you to accomplish all of your goals?John: My love for figure skating is my motivation. Hopefully, most people in life are motivated by a love for what they do. I certainly want to prove to the world that Americans are great figure skaters. Kyoko: The challenge of every day figure skating is my main motivation. The challenge is not just in having a great accomplishment, but if you can improve on that and stay consistent. ABC Sports: Your fans love you, but what would you say to them about yourself that they might not know?
Kyoko: I hope that our fans understand and appreciate how much we put in to the sport. We give it all we have to come out and perform to the best of our ability. We skate because we love to skate and hope that our fans can see that. It is special to us to know that people can enjoy what we do on the ice. | ALSO SEE Ina & Zimmerman - Bio Cough medicine banned skaters, says coach AUDIO/VIDEO  Kyoko Ina and John Zimmerman short program at WorldsRealVideo: 56.6 Kyoko Ina and John Zimmerman win the pairs championship at Nationals (Courtesy: ABC Sports)RealVideo: 56.6 | ||||||
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