Clip of the week - Charlene Wong

At the 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, all eyes were on 14-year-old Mirai Nagasu after she roared into first place after the short program. Sitting beside her in the Kiss and Cry area was her primary coach, Charlene Wong, and their reactions after the high scores were announced are priceless (see below). Everyone commends Mirai for her artistic, fluid and musical style of skating (considering she's only 14!) and Charlene, who has coached Mirai since 2006, has played a major role in bringing these elements to Mirai's skating, while also balancing her youth and growing maturity.   

Charlene has had a dynamic skating career of her own in the 1980s and 1990s. Charlene, now 41, was a four-time silver medalist at the Canadian Figure Skating Championships (1983, 1988-1990) and also competed in the 1988 Winter Olympics. After turning professional in 1990, she won her first event, the 1990 U.S. Open Professional Figure Skating Championships and also toured extensively with Torvill and Dean. She was also married to American skater Scott Williams (he coached Michelle Kwan to the 2003 U.S. and World Championship titles) and they divorced in 2001. Coaching full time has kept Charlene busy -- she has 40 students, ranging from recreational to "Mirai-level," and travels to competitions for three of her skaters. She currently lives in Hermosa Beach, California, with her five dogs, and travels to Canada to visit her parents and two siblings.

Below is Charlene's winning program from the 1990 U.S. Open, skating to Claude Debussy's The Afternoon of A Faun.

Comments

[Joanie]

It's nice to read about the people who make the young skaters who they are. They don't become stars by themselves.

[AnnaABC]

This girl is so cute. Good luck to her at Junior Worlds.

[Catch22]

Hi, Susan! Thanks for your wonderful news, as always. Mirai's socre got Charlene jaw-dropped. So did many audiences including me. Incidentally, I have no idea when Mirai was getting mastered 3Lz-3T.
Well, I read your article to find out that Charlene has depth as a person as well as a coatch. She shoud be proud of her policy & achievements. Thank you again!

[Michael Rosman]

January 28/09
Hi Charlene,
Saw you and heard you on TV today for the first time in about 25 years.
I still recall vividly, your injured foot at the Canadian Championships here in Montreal, a few years back. Hope the rules are better than what you had to endure, with your foot fracture.
Glad to see and read about your career, and follow the progress of the young skaters you are now coaching.
Best of luck
Michael

[Suzanne Gove-O'Rourke]

Hello Charlene;

Here's a blast from the past for you, this is Suzanne Gove, now "Gove-O'Rourke" from the Pierrefonds Figure Skating Club back in good old Montreal. I too live in California (Northern area) and would very much like to touch base with you. Please reply to this email if you have a free moment or two. Mirai is an absolutely beautiful skater - I can see your influence - just lovely!
Take care,
Suzanne Gove
PS - My father Dave also lives in Auburn, CA and wanted to pass on his greetings.