Olympic gold sparks local pride in Olympic City USA

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)-- While the Winter Games are underway in Milan, excitement is building thousands of miles away in Olympic City USA.

The U.S. figure skating team captured gold at the Winter Olympics after a nail-biting finish in the team competition. The Americans secured the title by just one point over Japan, thanks in large part to a standout performance from 21-year-old Ilia Malinin.

Malinin, nicknamed the “Quad God,” delivered under pressure, landing five quadruple jumps in his free skate and scoring more than 200 points to seal the victory for Team USA.

Inside the Broadmoor World Arena Ice Hall, the sound of blades carving across the ice signals more than practice. For many skaters training in Colorado Springs, it represents years of sacrifice, early mornings, and dreams of one day competing on the Olympic stage.

"Yesterday, as they were playing the national anthem and those kids were on the podium, if that doesn't affect you, nothing will. That's why we're here, to get kids to the podium and help them realize their dreams," said Allan Long, the Senior Director of Event Services at the Broadmoor Ice Hall.

That dream feels especially close following Team USA’s recent figure skating victory.

Tammy Gambill, an American figure skating coach, recently returned from Milan after watching athletes she has trained compete at the Olympics. She said the team event brought intense emotions for coaches and teammates watching from the stands.

“It was a great moment for Team USA,” Gambill said. “We were biting our nails and just so excited and then crying at the end, of course.”

Colorado Springs has long served as a training hub for elite figure skaters, and local coaches say Olympic success often feels personal.

Coach Eddie Shipstad said he previously worked with Team USA star Ilia Malinin and watched him perform in skating shows while training in Vail. Shipstad directed that show in Vail. Shipstad said cheering for athletes you personally know adds another level of emotion.

“It adds a whole different dimension when you know them and that you’re cheering for them because you know what kind of person they are,” Shipstad said. “Having that personal relationship, you’re hanging on the edge even more.”

Shipstad also added that Malinin has been known as the "Quad God" long before competing in the Olympics.

For athletes training at the rink, the Olympics are more than something they watch; they are something they hope to achieve themselves.

American Figure Skater Sonja Hilmer said training alongside athletes who have reached the Olympic stage makes the experience feel more real.

“Being here training with a number of the members who are on that team and seeing the work that they put in day by day and knowing that I’m so close to them as well and being kind of part of the Olympic experience, almost, it was that much more special,” Hilmer said.

Coaches say moments like Team USA’s success continue to inspire young athletes working toward their own Olympic goals, reinforcing Colorado Springs’ reputation as a pipeline for future Olympians.

Our former National champion and Team USA figure skater, Brynn Carman, will be featuring the three skaters who helped the team win gold yesterday! Amber Glenn, Ellie Kam, and Danny O’Shea have trained here in Olympic City, USA, for many years now. Stay tuned for their stories ahead of the individual events next week.

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