APRIL 2013 FIGURE ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
KYLEE BERGER
Kylee Berger of Camano Island, WA will be representing the United States of America in the 2013 World Games to be held in Cali, Colombia this July. She qualified for the World Games by virtue of her placement in the World Class Women’s Free Skating event at the 2012 World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand. Kylee is a versatile athlete who has been a member of Team USA in the Junior and Senior World Championships from 2004-2009, 2011-2012 in two separate disciplines; Pairs and Free Skating. Her talents weave her athleticism, elegance, style and grace on the competitive arena. This tenacious young woman is also majoring in Cellular, Molecular Developmental Biology. USA Roller Sports sends all the best to Kylee and all that she pursues in sport and life.
Team USA Years:
Fresno 2004 WC pairs, Rome 2005 WC pairs& JWC freestyle, Murcia 2006 WC pairs, Australia 2007 JWC freestyle, 2008 WC freestyle, 2009 Germany WC freestyle, 2011 Brazil WC Freestyle, 2012 New Zealand WC Freestyle
Hometown: Camano Island, Washington
Current Residence: Mukilteo, Washington
Personal website/journal/web log (blog) address:
Www.Facebook.com/profile.php?id=652447238
Education: Senior at the University of Washington
High school attended: Shorecrest High school
Year of graduation: 2008
Location of high school: Shoreline, Washington
Sports you competed in while in high school (include number of years): Artistic Roller Skating 2004-2008
College attended: University of Washington
Year of graduation: 2013
Degree/major: Cellular, Molecular, Developmental Biology
Sports you competed in while in college (include number of years): Artistic Roller Skating 2008- Present
Occupation, current employer: student
Career goals: Currently I unsure what I want to do. I do know I want to go to medical school. I just don’t know if I want to go into infectious diseases and diagnostics or something more to do with sports medicine or trauma. I have so many different options and am currently trying to narrow in at my interests.
Current skating club: Lynnwood Expressions
Coaches name: Anna Carrier Barnett
When did you begin skating: Age 9
Are you sponsored and if so, by whom:
Dynamic Fitness: Customized training program that gets me in the best possible shape in order to skate to my potential.
http://www.dfperformance.net/about.htm
Skates US/ Rolline: Skate equipment
http://www.skatesus.com
Future goals you hope to obtain as a skater:
This year I would like to go and have fun. I would like to relax and show what I can actually do. I know if I can relax, I can be on the podium. My future goal if not this year is to be world champion in the Women's freestyle.
Team USA Sport Accomplishments:
2004 World team member- Fresno, California
2005 JWC team Member Rome, Italy
2006 World team member- Murcia, Spain finishing 5th
2007 JWC team member- Australia, was 4th after the short
2008 WC Team member- China
2009 WC team member- Freiburg Germany- 3rd after the short.... 7th finish
2011 World team member- Brasilia, Brazil
2012 World team member- Auckland, New Zealand and qualified for world games
Awards, honors and statistics received in roller sports:
NW Regional Champion in every event since 2004
2002 NW skater of the year
2002 Junior Pairs Champions
2004 NW Skater of the year
2005 Sophomore A ladies National silver medalist
2005 JWC singles Champion
2005 WC pairs National silver medalists
2005 NW special recognition Award
2006 JWC singles Nationals bronze medalist
2006 WC pairs national Bronze medalist
2007 Advanced Coed loops National Silver medalist
2007 JWC Singles Champion
2008 WC ladies National Silver medalist
2008 WC Team member- China
2009 WC ladies National silver medalist
2011 WC singles National Champion
2011 4th place Shanghai, China Gran Prix
2011- USOC representative for Olympic day
2012- WC Ladies National Champion
2013- US World Games representative
Other awards and/or honors received outside of roller sports: Honor roll 2004-2008, Top 20 in class of 2008, Presidents award.
Who is your favorite sports figure: Anyone who has made serious sacrifices in life to obtain a certain goal. There are so many athletes I could name that compete or competed in a wide variety of athletics. “When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, the you’ll be successful.”
Who is the person you most admire/greatest influence in your life and why:
A couple different people, Anna Carrier Barnett, my coach, She has taught me ever since I was very little, but she has taught me so much more than just to skate. She has taught me to believe in myself and to have confidence. I wouldn't be the skater or the person I am today without her. Another person who I admire is my mom. She is one of the most selfless people I know. She is constantly giving to others and has made so many sacrifices so that I can obtain my goals.
List your hobbies: skating, running, being in the gym, hiking, camping, paddle boarding, listening to music.
What music do you listen to during training or competition?
Techno usually during practice but occasional rap, rock or pop music. Usually depends on the mood in the rink.
What makes you a unique and special person:
I'm a very hard worker, and if I want something, I work very hard to get it! I don't think that many people actually know just how hard I work. Training isn't something that I do in the rink… it doesn't stop once practice is over. I drive to the gym and start my outside training. I am at the gym just about everyday working to achieve my goals. There are very few days where I leave the gym without sweat to wipe off my forehead and the feeling of accomplishment. I am also a very good friend, if you prove yourself to be trustworthy, I will do everything I can to be there for you.
Favorite food before a competition: Apple
Favorite movie: Super Troopers, Liar Liar, comedies and chick flicks =)
Favorite place to shop: I love workout clothes, so currently my favorite places are LuLu lemon, Nike, lucy and TJ maxx!
Most prized possession: I would truly have to say the friends who have stuck by my side through the good and the bad and my family. Without them I would have nothing!
If you could pick one word to describe you, what would it be: Determined
Anything else you would like us to know about you:
I am probably one of the pickiest people when it comes to food. I have learned a ton about nutrition and so I am very conscious what I choose to put in my body. I have not eaten fast food in 4 years as of June 2013!
Family Information:
Father’s name: Kent Berger
Father’s occupation: Self employed
Mother’s name: Keri Mjeltevik
Sisters: Erin Venables
Family Members Who Have Competed or Are Competing in Amateur or Professional Athletics: Joshua Rhoads
Pan American Games: 3rd 2007 Pan Ams
World Games: 2009 world games contestant
Other Events/Sports: World Team member for too many years to count, not sure past placements