NC figure skaters heartbroken by deaths in DC plane crash
ARE.
>> IS A LIVE LOOK AT THE CRASH
SCENE ON THE POTOMAC RIVER IN
WASHINGTON. WE NOW KNOW
PROFESSIONAL FIGURE SKATERS
WERE ON THAT PLANE DURING THE
MID-AIR COLLISION, INCLUDING
2 WORLD CHAMPIONS. MANY PEOPLE
WHO ARE PART OF THE SKATING
COMMUNITY ARE TRYING TO FIND
WAYS TO DEAL WITH THE LOSS.
>> WRAL'S CHELSEA DONOVAN WENT
TO GREENSBORO WHERE SOME OF
THE WORLD'S BEST LEARNED HOW
TO EXCEL DOING WHAT THEY LOVE
>> SOPHIA STALKERS, MINE IS IN
A DIFFERENT PLACE TODAY AS SHE
SPINS AND TWIRLS ON THE ICE.
SHE CALLS THE SKATING COMMUNITY
SMALL AND TIGHT-KNIT. THERE'S A
FEELING OF SORROW AND
LIKE, WAIT.
>> EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T KNOW
ANY OF THE SKATERS, IT IS.
IT'S IT'S HEAVY. IT'S HEAVY
STUFF. SHE AND SO MANY HERE AT
THE GREENSBORO ICEHOUSE ARE
STRUGGLING WITH THE LOSS OF
FIGURE SKATERS AND COACHES WHO
DIED IN THAT HORRIFIC PLANE
COLLISION. DEFINITELY
HEARTBREAKING DAY FOR THE
FIGURE SKATING COMMUNITY.
>> AND IT JUST MAKES ME WANT TO
HUG EVERYBODY. THE RINK IS NO
STRANGER TO TALLY UP ALL
AROUND. YOU SEE SIGNS REGARDING
THE U.S. NATIONAL FIGURE
SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS. WE'VE
HAD NATIONALS HERE 3 TIMES NOW.
>> SO I THESE GATORS TO COME
HERE TO GREENSBORO. CHANCES ARE
SOMEONE ON THAT FLIGHT PRACTICE
RIGHT HERE. MANY WHO I SPOKE TO
SAID THEY'RE JUST ONE PERSON
REMOVED FROM KNOWING SOMEONE
WHO DIED ON THAT FLIGHT.
HE ALSO THE FEW SKATERS THAT
ACTUALLY WENT TO THAT TEST WAS
AS NATIONAL CLINIC AND THAT IS
STATE WITH SOME OF THESE
SKATERS. ONE YOUNG SKATER WHO
TRAINS HERE AND IN HILLSBOROUGH
WAS AT THE SAME CAMP.
>> AS THOSE WHO DIED IN THE
CRASH WHEN THEY GOT THERE, THEY
WERE. THEY DECIDE THEY WOULD
DRIVE BACK. SO I THINK THEY
WERE GOOD. THEY WERE SITTING ON
THAT FLIGHT FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN
TOLD THE SKATERS WHO PASS WERE
AT THE TOP OF THEIR SPORT AND
IN SECONDS THEIR DREAMS AND
HOPES WERE SHATTERED.
UNKNOWINGLY JUST GOING FROM
SUCH A HIGH HIGH, TOO SOMETHING
SO TRAGIC IS.