Ice Dancing and Reading?

Yes, but not at the same time! Olympic Ice Dance Champs talk to Kid Reporter

To be honest, I didn’t particularly remember the details of the Ice Dancing competition from the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics when I got the assignment to interview Silver Medalist Ice Dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White. My mom and I went onto YouTube to do some research!

We found many interesting interviews and videos of their ice dancing routines. I was really impressed by their “Indian-inspired” ice dance in the Olympic competition. The music and choreography were great! Both skaters were completely in sync with the music and each other.

I also liked the Phantom of the Opera ice dance. Toward the end of that routine, there was an interesting lift that involved Meryl flipping onto Charlie’s back and positioning her skate blade on his calf while gliding across the ice. How did they not fall doing that move? They made it look so smooth and easy.

Just before the interview I had butterflies in my stomach. I was nervous and excited at the same time. When I got to the ice arena for our scheduled meeting, Meryl warmly welcomed me and went to find Charlie. When I asked them the questions, they gave me great answers—just the answers I needed to write a great article. They were extremely nice and told me that I had done a terrific job for my first interview. No more butterflies!

One really interesting thing I learned about the ice dancing pair is that they love to read and are excited by Scholastic’s Campaign to “Read Every Day. Lead A Better Life.”

“Reading every day is something we take to heart,” Meryl said. “Our education is something we really take pride in.”

“Reading books you enjoy can help you advance your education,” Charlie said. “For me, it was key in being accepted into a great college like University of Michigan.”

Both have their respective lists of “influential books” noted on Scholastic’s You Are What You Read website. Some of their all time favorites are targeted for teens and older such as The Chronicles of Amber (Charlie’s favorite) and The Lord of the Rings (Meryl’s favorite).

I asked them about their favorite childhood books. Meryl said The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was her favorite book because of the adventures and mischief she could experience by reading.

And Charlie’s favorite childhood book? A story about a bunny rabbit that sucks all the juice from vegetables.

“Actually, just mentioning the book makes me want to find my copy of Bunnicula so I can read it again!” Charlie said with a loud laugh.

You can check out You Are What You Read and add your own favorite books. It’s cool! (Kind of like ice dancing.) Also, check my story about the interview!

—Molly Pribble

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Molly Pribble with Olympic Silver Medalists Meryl Davis and Charlie White at the Arctic Edge Ice Arena in Canton, Michigan, where they train for their ice dancing routines. (Photo Courtesy Molly Pribble)

Two Days at Redsfest

A baseball fan’s dream come true!

I am a baseball fan. Not just any old baseball fan either. I collect memorabilia and with that, players’ autographs—the ultimate fan’s ultimate achievement!

Recently my family and I visited the Cincinnati Reds’ annual Redsfest, an offseason event that allows fans to interact with Reds players past and present. Redsfest features autograph and photo sessions with players, memorabilia, and games for kids and adults alike.

Redfest is an autograph collector’s dream, but it’s not easy. You have to have a strategy and work your plan.

My dad picked me up early from school the first day, and we headed to the Duke Energy Convention Center in downtown Cincinnati. After searching endless parking lots to find a spot, we entered the convention center a half hour before the official start of Redsfest, only to find that hundreds of collectors had beat us there!

I had a list of autographs I wanted, with the “must-haves” at the top. My dad and I headed to one of the many TV monitors sprinkled throughout the center to make our plan.

At Redsfest, the monitors show which players and personnel will be at each of the autograph and photo sessions an hour beforehand. Collectors flock to the TVs each hour to plot where they are going next.

As soon as the appearances are revealed, the mad rush begins! Only 250 people are guaranteed an autograph or photo in each line. The rush is to get a prime spot for the player you want most.

A few hours and lots of waiting in line later, my dad and I had autographs from Reds outfielder Jonny Gomes and pitchers Aroldis Chapman (whose pitches top out at 105 mph!) and Mike Leake—three of the players on my list. Check!

The next day, my mom and brother joined us. We divided and conquered and got even more autographs, including one from Joey Votto, this year’s National League MVP. My brother and I pushed our way through a mob of thousands for that one!

We checked out the memorabilia stands, too, and the many booths devoted to Reds sponsors and affiliates. We had tons of fun. Redsfest really is a baseball fan’s dream come true!

—Meggie Zahneis

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Meggie Zahneis  in front of a clubhouse locker at the Cincinnati Reds’ annual Redsfest. (Photo Courtesy Meggie Zahneis)

Today at U.S. Open

Will Wozniacki win?

Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, New York, is a venue that “has no mercy” say many of the tennis greats who have played there. This year, soaring temperatures and a hurricane have added to the stress.

On the first day of the U.S. Open, the final big tennis tournament of the 2010 season, temperatures reached almost 100 degrees. By the end of the week, Hurricane Earl hit and players were forced to battle their opponents in high winds of about 22 miles per hour.

“The wind was really tough for me,” said Beatrice Capra, 18, who was beaten by Maria Sharapova, the 2006 U.S. Open Women’s Champ.

"It was unfortunate she had to come out on Ashe for the first time and be in those kind of conditions," Sharapova said of Capra.

Whatever the conditions, tennis is not a game for those easily rattled by circumstances beyond their control—whether it be weather or noise or an intense opponent. Among those left standing at the end of this week were the toughest competitors: Roger Federer, Maria Sharipova, Rafael Nadal, and Venus Williams.

Federer is hoping to win his sixth title in seven years at the Open. Nadal has won eight major championships, but has yet to make it past the semifinals at Flushing Meadows. He has lost at that stage of the tournament each of the past two years.

Federer lost his number one ranking to Nadal this year, and has suffered from illness, including a lung infection. Nadal hopes this will be his year to become only the seventh man in tennis history with at least one title from each of the four Grand Slam tournaments: the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open.

For tennis fans watching the action, keep an eye on Mardy Fish, the number 19 seed who is ranked 21st in the world. He is only one of three Americans left in the final 20 of the men’s draw.

Caroline Wozniacki has a chance to dethrone the world's No. 1 player, Serena Williams. First she has to beat 17th ranked Sharapova in the fourth round today.

“I’m playing to win,” Wozniaki said, “and it doesn’t really matter how. Just win and enjoy to be out there.”

—Joseph O'Connor

PHOTO: Among the tennis fans helping kick off the U.S. Open tournament in Queens, New York, recently was Disney star Demi Lovato, shown here with Kid Reporter Joseph O'Connor at the Arthur Ashe Kids Day. (Photo Courtesy Joseph O'Connor)

First Youth Olympic Games Ends

Hats off to Singapore for a job very well done.

After 12 days of hard-fought competition, the first ever Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Singapore concluded on Thursday with another spectacular ceremony at Marina Bay.

So much happened in those 12 days! The athletes were spectacular of course, and their stories and achievements will live on forever. But as I step away from the Games and make my way to the airport, what strikes me the most is what went on behind the scenes: all the details, big and small, that made it all possible.

“I did not expect this level of perfection,” said Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee. “Hats off to Singapore for what they’ve done. I now have 22 Olympic Games under my belt and the YOG is ranking at the very top.”

I've walked a lot in the city and I don't think I saw a single street without a banner or billboard advertising the Games. For 12 days, the official buses of the Youth Olympic Games roamed the city. The mascots—Lyo and Merly—have become celebrities. The spirit of the Youth Olympic Games was everywhere!

One point of controversy was that most venues were sold-out long before the finals, and not enough tickets had been set aside for anyone—especially Singapore residents—wishing to attend at the last minute. That should be addressed in future Games, but there are worse problems than to have too much success.

In the end, 370,000 spectators attended the Games.

"We have made Singapore proud," declared Ng Ser Miang, Chairman of the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee, during the Closing Ceremony.

He, too, recognized that the Games would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of the more than 20,000 volunteers.

"What can I say to you?" he told volunteers. "From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for your passion and your total devotion. This is a dream come true for many of us. So dear friends, wherever you are, please stand up, take a bow and be recognized."

And the crowd recognized them! They gave the volunteers a well-deserved standing ovation.

This is my last post from Singapore, and it's been an amazing experience. Being a Kid Reporter and seeing kids barely older than me achieve so much—wow! That was truly inspiring.

I loved it all—even you guys at the Media Accreditation office! Thank you for the opportunity!

—Charlotte Samson

PHOTO: Young athletes enjoy a party on stage during the closing ceremony of the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, August 26, 2010. (Photo Courtesy ©2010 Youth Olympic Games)

Olympic Windsurfing Sails!

Champions crowned at the Youth Olympic Games windsurfing regatta.

The conclusion of the windsurfing regatta at the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore was thrilling! The competition lasted for nine days. That's really exhausting.

First, it's exhausting mentally, because you have to stay sharp the whole time and handle the distractions.

It is also physically tough. Windsurfing can be done in every wind condition, but contrary to what you might think, it's harder physically with very little wind. That was certainly the case in Singapore this week.

In light conditions, competitors need to continuously move their sail around to propel their board. That’s called 'pumping' and it's a tough test of endurance.

The last race counted double-points, but that didn't change who won the gold medal in either the girls’ or boys’ fleet. Siripon Kaewduang-Ngam from Thailand and Mayan Rafic from Israel dominated the regatta throughout.

The last race did, however, decide the silver and bronze medals. In the girls’ fleet, Italy took the silver, while Singapore won bronze. For the boys’, silver went to Hong Kong and the bronze to Great Britain.

It's always difficult to spot the action from the shore in a windsurfing regatta, but for that last race, groups of people gathered around the few who had binoculars. We were all on the edge of our seats!

When it was over, all the boats—including the officials, technical teams, and coaches—came back honking! It was really loud and playful. Everyone on shore was cheering, especially for Audrey Yong from Singapore, who clawed her way into the medals with that last race. The whole scene gave me goosebumps!

You may remember from an earlier post that my big sister Margot also competed in windsurfing! She didn't finish among the leaders, but learned a lot and raced a great medal race.

She was beaming when she got back to the beach. I asked her about what this regatta meant to her.

“It was absolutely spectacular," she told me. "What we experienced here in Singapore’—the tough competition, the Olympic life, the organization, the friendships we made—I'll remember this forever!"

I talked to some other competitors after the race, asking them to summarize their experience in one word.

Here's a multi-lingual sample of what I heard: Great, Incredible, Amazing, Awesome, Fantastic, Inoubliable, Impressionnant, Fun, Divertida.

The competitor from Estonia summarized his experience as, "Suure parane." My Estonian is a little rusty, so I looked it up online. It means “big improvement.”

Here’s my one word for all the competitors: Bravo!

—Charlotte Samson

PHOTOS: (TOP) Margot Samson (USA) and Audrey Caron (Canada) congratulate each other after windsurfing competition ends. (BOTTOM) Hanna Idziak (Poland) is interviewed by Kid Reporter Charlotte Samson at the windsurfing competition in the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. (Photos by Charlotte Samson)

Olympic Champions

The difference between winning and being a champion.

In the opening ceremony for the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore on Saturday, the President of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, had these words of advice for the young athletes competing in Singapore: "You will learn the difference between winning and being a champion. To win, you merely have to cross the finish line first. To be a champion, you have to inspire admiration for your character, as well as for your physical talent."

At the time, I didn't think much about it. It sounded like the polite thing to say to 3,600 competitors—most of whom would go back home after two weeks without a medal.

Since hearing that speech, however, I have witnessed a couple of amazing events that brought those words to life.

First, I attended the finals of the 3M springboard diving competition. It was won handily by Bo Qiu from China. Michael Hixon, from the U.S., came from behind in the last dive of the night to grab the bronze.

I caught up with Michael after his dive and he was glowing.

“It was pretty awesome," he said. "I was a little nervous before the last dive, but I knew what I had to do, and I did it."

However, the competition really stood out for me because of the performance of Tom Daley. Tom, 16, is the reigning world champion from the 10M platform. He represented Great Britain in Beijing in 2008 at the age of 13. Girls were standing outside the venue with 'I Love You Tom' painted on their cheeks. He's a celebrity!

Tom injured himself earlier this year, but rather than missing the Youth Olympic Games altogether, he decided to compete in the 3M springboard event because it hurts a little less. His third jump of the night was horrible. He didn't complete the last rotation and nearly landed flat on his stomach. That must not have happened to him in years. The crowd gasped, and everyone knew right then that he was not going to medal.

Tom had two more jumps to go, but rather than giving up, he smiled at the crowd and nailed them both! He knew he had lost any chance for a medal—he ended up 9th—but he finished it off in style.

It must have hurt a lot physically as well, because immediately after the last dive, he had an enormous ice pack on his arm and shoulder. You know what he said to me afterward?

"I'm very disappointed,” he said, “but it was an amazing experience."

Sign me up to Tom's fan club!

The second amazing event was in the finals of the girls' 2000m steeplechase, which took place under a steady rain. Anastasiya Puzakova from Belarus fell hard on one of the jumps after only one lap. She crashed on the track, and it took her so much time to get up that we all thought she had broken her wrist, or her ankle.

Anastasiya stood up and continued the race. It hurt me just to watch, because we all could see she was limping. We could also hear her screams of pain as she made her way around the track. She finished a minute and a half behind winner Virginia Nyambura from Kenya, but for her last stretch, the crowd was on its feet and cheering her on.

She collapsed after the finish line and was escorted from the track by the medical staff under a shower of applause. Anastasiya didn't give interviews after the race because she was being treated—she injured her knee pretty bad—but I saw her in a wheelchair before catching a bus back to the Olympic Village.

Even though I could see the pain in her eyes, she held her head high. She showed us all what it really meant to compete and do your very best. She showed me what it meant to be a champion.

—Charlotte Samson

PHOTO: Anastasiya Puzakova from Belarus is escorted from the track after the 2000m steeplechase finals. (Photo by Charlotte Samson)

Fast and Furious at the YOG!

Kid Reporter—and table tennis teams—finally get into the games!

After a week in Singapore, I've finally received my official media accreditation for the Youth Olympic Games! Yes!

First stop: table tennis. What an experience! Stepping into the National Indoor Stadium, hearing the rapid-fire clatter of the hollow celluloid balls, the cheers of the crowd. I never imagined how intense this sport can be!

The players are grunting, shouting, pumping fists... They're sweating so much that they have to wipe their hands on the tables between points.

You've surely heard people refer to this sport as 'ping-pong,' which is cute, but did you know that it was once called 'whiff-whaff?' Nothing whiffy or whaffy about it, let me tell you—this is fast and furious.

It just happens that I showed up on the first day of the tournament. Like me, the competitors in table tennis had to wait one full week before getting into the action. I asked some of them how they handled the wait.

“It was confusing at first, but I practiced every day and I adapted well to the situation," said Ojo Onaolapo from Nigeria after his first win. Ojo came out on top of his group in the first stage. He came through the second stage as well to reach the Quarterfinals.

Simon Bauzy, from Toulouse, France, and the 3rd seed at the beginning of the tournament, thought that the one week wait was frustrating.

“We couldn't take part in some of the fun activities at the Olympic Village," he said. He used the time preparing for the competition, which paid off. He’s playing in the semi-finals today.

Celine Pang, also from France, thought that "the wait was tiring" and was disappointed not to come out of her first stage group. But she was fantastic today in the consolation bracket and won all of her matches.

These players are young, but already they're professionals. They know how to handle a difficult schedule and use it to their advantage.

For me, waiting for my accreditation was very frustrating. Honestly, I was a nervous wreck! But I'm learning from these top competitors. Patience is a virtue. Good things come to those who wait.

I'm super excited that I now have access to the venues, and I'll be rushing to cover as many events as I can!

—Charlotte Samson

PHOTOS: (TOP) Fast and furious table tennis action at the National Indoor Stadium at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. (Photo Courtesy Charlotte Samson)

Spain Wins Bronze in Taekwondo

Bumping Into Athletes While Awaiting Media Accreditation

My adventure at the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore continues. I am still waiting for my media accreditation, but I've been assured that my application is being fast-tracked. I should be able to gain access to the venues and athletes very soon!

For now, I have to rely on luck to catch up with athletes outside of the venues. Of course, it helps that the athletes are often dressed head to toe in his or her country's uniform!

That was how I nabbed an interview with Nagore Irigoien of Spain in the lobby of the Marina Bay Sands hotel. Once I spotted her, I scrambled to get my notebook and pen from my dad's backpack. I then ran after her and introduced myself.

Nagore, 17, comes from Bilbao, Spain. She placed 3rd in the 63kg Taekwondo competition the night before—a bronze medal at the first-ever Youth Olympic Games! Not too shabby! No wonder she and her family were smiling so big when I snapped their picture!

Taekwondo is an ancient art. Its origins can be traced back 2000 years in Korea. Its name literally means "The Way of Kicking and Punching," which sounds sort of random and wild. However, the practice of Taekwondo involves an enormous amount of technique that takes athletes years to develop.

"I've been doing Tawkwondo for 10 years," Nagore said. "I’ve been competing for the last five years. Of course Taekwondo isn't as popular as football or basketball in Spain, but it's a great success nonetheless."

Nagore competed in Mexico earlier this year to qualify for the Youth Olympic Games. With her final competition now over, she can relax a little. I asked her what she was able to do in Singapore so far besides competing. She was quick to mention the Singapore Flyer, the tallest Ferris Wheel in the world! It’s nearly 550 feet tall.

Her spirits are also flying high after her Bronze medal win. Congratulations, Nagore!

—Charlotte Samson

PHOTO: Nagore Irigoien (center) of Spain celebrates her bronze medal win in Taekwondo with her family and friends. (Photo Courtesy Charlotte Samson)

Youth Olympic Games Opening Ceremony

Kid Reporter covers the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.

This is it. The long wait is over. After two and a half years of preparations and anticipation, the first ever Youth Olympic Games (YOG) are finally here. And if the Opening Ceremony in Singapore is any indication of what we might get to see in the next 12 days, we're in for something spectacular.

Singapore is buzzing with energy. YOG signs, banners, and flags are just about everywhere. From the moment I stepped out of the plane on Saturday to the time I arrived at Marina Bay for the Opening Ceremony that evening, I bumped into 736 volunteers. The volunteers are everywhere in their neon-purple outfits I'm sure can be easily spotted from space! I talked to all of them—well, nearly all—and they're super nice and eager to help.

Check out these numbers: 3,600 athletes from 204 countries are competing; 20,000 volunteers are helping keep things organized; 7,000 dancers performed in front of 27,000 spectators for the opening ceremony; and more than 2 billion watched worldwide on TV. (You can watch online at http://www.youtholympicgames.org/)

The stage for the opening ceremony was set on the water, which reflected the city and the fireworks all around. It gave me goosebumps to be there watching.

Singapore has a proud history—one that was told beautifully in the Opening Ceremony. The games are sure to add a fascinating new chapter to that history—a chapter rooted in the Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect.

A prominent song at the Opening Ceremony had this chorus: "Today, our story has begun." That's how highly the citizens of Singapore hold these games.

With the opening ceremonies over, competition is now in full swing. I am working hard to cover everything I can, including my sister’s competition in wind surfing. Yes, my older sister, Margot, is on the U.S. wind surfing team!

Stay tuned to this blog for more reports from Singapore!

—Charlotte Samson

PHOTO: Fireworks explode during the opening ceremony marking the start of the inaugural Youth Olympic Games on Saturday August 14, 2010 in Singapore. (Photo: Wong Maye-E/AP Images)

MLB All Star-Game 2010

National League wins after 13-year drought

When the All-Star Game took place yesterday, the two teams were filled with great baseball players who had dreamed of making it to that point their entire lives. With practice and hard work, they had finally achieved their major league dreams — some several times!

The game took place Tuesday night at the Angels stadium in Anaheim, California. Every year the fans vote for the best of the best and decide which players will get the chance to play in the legendary game between the National and the American Leagues.

MLB Hall of Famer Rod Carew, who participated in 18 All Star games during his career, threw the first pitch of the game.

“It’s such a great feeling when millions of fans vote for you and enable you to be an All-Star,” Carew told the Scholastic Kids Press Corps in an interview last week.

For the last 13 years the American League has been very successful in winning the All-Star Game. When they scored the first point in the fifth inning, it looked as if they might be winning another one. After all, the National League has not won the All-Star Game since 1996.

It turns out that this year was going to be different. During the seventh inning, Brian McCann hit a three-run double. The game ended with the National League winning 3 to 1, thanks to McCann.

“You dream about moments like this as a kid,” McCann said after receiving his Most Valuable Player of the Game trophy. “Tonight was just amazing. I hope that young boys and young girls who are interested in playing the game know that it’s all about the passion. If you want to learn how to play the game, you should go out and do it and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t.” 

—Mariam El Hasan

Photo: National League catcher Brian McCann of the Atlanta Braves poses with the MVP trophy after the Nation League team beat the American League 3-1 in the All-Star baseball game Tuesday, July 13, 2010, in Anaheim, Calif. (Credit: Mark J. Terrill/AP Images)

Check out Kid Reporter Mariam El Hasan's report from the Major League Baseball All-Star FanFest in Anaheim on the Scholastic Kids Press Corps site!