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Mel's Weekly#10: January 13, 2005I know I have been slipping in my efforts to write something each week, but I hope you'll forgive me. To be honest, I was not planning on writing until next week, with a report on the happenings at 2005 U.S. Nationals, but sometimes, I come across news so devastating that my only consolation is to write. (This will not include spoilers about Nationals.) Yesterday morning, Angela Nikodinov arrived in Portland with her parents and her coach. They took a cab from the airport to, I suppose, their hotel, but they did not make it there. En route, the taxi was involved in an accident and while most of the party made it through okay, Angela's mother did not. Angela and her father were treated and released from the hospital yesterday and her coach, Igor Pashkevitch, was kept overnight for observation and, according to reports, was listed in good condition. Her mother, Delores Nikodinov, never even made it to the hospital. I remember when she lost her coach, in late 2001. With Elena Tcherkasskaia, Angela found an artistic beauty, an exquisite grace that she never knew that she had. She was only beginning to blossom, enjoying a top five finish at the 2001 World Championships, with her heart set on competing in the Olympics in her home country. Not many get the opportunity to do that, but for Angela, the time seemed to be right. However, when her coach, mentor, and friend lost a short-lived battle with cancer, Angela's dreams gave way to mourning, quite understandably, and she watched at home while her Olympic dream passed by. What struck me most about Angela is that she never gave up. With fire in her belly to honour the memory of the woman who brought her so far, she pushed back once again, determined to give her dreams the second chance that they deserved. Even after a serious shoulder injury, and increasing problems with consistency, still she persevered. When she won her first international title since a win at the 2000 Four Continents Championships and became the 2004 Skate America champion a few months ago, we were all so proud of her. Even those who had never been particularly drawn to her skating could not deny that it was a fantastic story. How fair is it for one girl, who has been through so much, to lose her mother? Why her? Why now? I cannot begin to address these questions that I have, but can only trust in my belief that everything occurs with a purpose. What that purpose is, it is impossible to say right now. I can only offer Angela and her family my prayers as she tries to move through this difficult time. She was probably riding in that taxi with anticipation, a mix of excitement and extreme anxiety at the thought of once again taking on her own battle at the National championships. Whereas last year was just to skate well and get back on her feet, this year, Angela had dreams and realistic hopes of making the World championship team if she skated well, something she has not done in four years. She was probably thinking about the adventures the week would hold, never about how the next thing her mother said might be among her last words. As I sit here, with tears in my eyes, I pray that she is able to overcome this, that this tragedy will give her one more reason to fight. I have hope, for if anyone can press on, I believe Angela can. However, that is a choice that she will have to make. If you want to send your condolences to Angela and her family, you may do so through her official website. I hope that many will take the time to do this. Angela needs all of the support she can get right now and even though many reading are "just fans," the skating world is still a family and in times of tragedy, we stick together. Archives -- Contact -- Features -- Guestbook -- Links -- Webmistress (c)2005 Melanie L. Hoyt All rights reserved. |