Post by blackcrowheart on Jun 13, 2007 14:32:40 GMT -5
Olympian wows audiences
by: David Melmer
Indian Country Today
Photo courtesy Michelle Wojdila -- Naomi Lang, Karuk, is a professional ice
dancer who has traveled the world. Lang is the first and only American
Indian woman to ever compete in the Olympic Games. She finished 11th in
the Salt Lake City, Utah, 2002 Winter Olympics. Photo courtesy Mark
Fitzgerald -- 2002 Olympic Games ice dancing stars Naomi Lang, Karuk,
and her partner, Peter Tchernyshev, demonstrated their ''Smoothe'' moves
to the music of Santana during their January appearance on the ''Today
Show'' at New York City's Rockefeller Center rink. Lang, a role model to
American Indian youths, said she plans to coach when she retires from
touring. NEW YORK - It's a long way from a small town in California to
the big ice of the Olympics and to the world stage of ice dancing; but
Naomi Lang, Karuk, made the leap with grace and beauty.
Lang, now 28 years old, is a professional ice dancer who travels the
world. The day after Indian Country Today spoke with Lang she was headed
for a one-month tour in Germany and England.
Lang, whose Karuk name is Maheetahan (Morning Star), is the first and
only American Indian woman to ever compete in the Olympic Games. Lang
finished 11th in the Salt Lake City, Utah, 2002 Winter Olympics. On
tour, she not only represents the United States, but all of Indian
country.
Lang took to the ice at the age of 8 as though she were born to skate.
''I had no idea I would be here. I started just for recreation and then
fell in love with it,'' Lang said.
''I don't know how I got involved in it; it's like I was almost supposed
to do it.''
She started skating at a rink in Redwood, Calif., and then moved to
Michigan with her mother, Leslie Dixon. Fortunately for Lang, there was
an ice rink near where her mother worked.
''I loved it so much; I was always there.''
Lang did not grow up in a wealthy household like many Olympic stars. Her
mother, a nurse, worked extra hours and on the night shift to help her
daughter.
Lang's busy schedule does take her away from her 2-year-old daughter,
Lillia; but then, as Lang said, ''Right now in her life she is getting
to know her grandmother well. It's not as bad as it seems, but I miss
her so much when I'm away.''
Lang said she'll probably spend a couple more years on tour and then,
when she's in her early 30s, focus more attention on family and
coaching. She added that her passion is choreography: ''That's what I do
best.''
Lang said she is doing more to embrace her cultural heritage and work
with American Indian youth. She currently lives near New York City, in
an area without a close-knit Native community, so a recent trip to
Florida and a meeting with the youth from the Seminole Tribe was special
for her as well as for the children.
At the exhibition and tour, tribal youth were brought onto the ice with
Lang. ''They all came out and skated with me. You never know, some
skated for the first time; I like to get kids motivated.''
Lang rose up the ladder to the Olympic stage with five national ice
dance titles. With her partner, Russian-born Peter Tchernyshev, the two
wowed audiences and at the 2002 Olympics received a standing ovation.
Lang and Tchernyshev recently participated in NBC's month of ice dancing
specials. The two used the backdrop of the Seminole Tribe's Hard Rock
Casino in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
And now her passion has become multi-generational: Lillia has taken to
the ice.
''She actually loves skating so much. I didn't want her to skate at
first, but I had a pair of my niece's skates - little, tiny skates - and
she said, 'momma kates.' I put them on her and she walked around the
house for two hours.
''She has been skating since she was a year and now she knows how to
lift her leg. She learns from watching me,'' Lang said.
When Lang is home she has quite a few students, and she plans to include
more after she retires from touring. She also has some more motivation
to stay home - she will be married in late summer to Mark Fitzgerald, a
fellow coach who competed in the world championships.
Fitzgerald proposed to Lang on the rink after a show in early December
2006 just after the skaters in the show were taking their bows. It was a
surprise for Lang.
Lang knows her responsibility to American Indian youth as a role model
and she plans to encourage more young people to pursue their dreams.
''I try to be the best role model I can for Native American youth,'' she
said.
''I grew up with not much money and I ended up going to the Olympics.
You always have to believe in yourself.
''Don't give up on what you believe in. If you want to do something, you
can do it.''
by: David Melmer
Indian Country Today
Photo courtesy Michelle Wojdila -- Naomi Lang, Karuk, is a professional ice
dancer who has traveled the world. Lang is the first and only American
Indian woman to ever compete in the Olympic Games. She finished 11th in
the Salt Lake City, Utah, 2002 Winter Olympics. Photo courtesy Mark
Fitzgerald -- 2002 Olympic Games ice dancing stars Naomi Lang, Karuk,
and her partner, Peter Tchernyshev, demonstrated their ''Smoothe'' moves
to the music of Santana during their January appearance on the ''Today
Show'' at New York City's Rockefeller Center rink. Lang, a role model to
American Indian youths, said she plans to coach when she retires from
touring. NEW YORK - It's a long way from a small town in California to
the big ice of the Olympics and to the world stage of ice dancing; but
Naomi Lang, Karuk, made the leap with grace and beauty.
Lang, now 28 years old, is a professional ice dancer who travels the
world. The day after Indian Country Today spoke with Lang she was headed
for a one-month tour in Germany and England.
Lang, whose Karuk name is Maheetahan (Morning Star), is the first and
only American Indian woman to ever compete in the Olympic Games. Lang
finished 11th in the Salt Lake City, Utah, 2002 Winter Olympics. On
tour, she not only represents the United States, but all of Indian
country.
Lang took to the ice at the age of 8 as though she were born to skate.
''I had no idea I would be here. I started just for recreation and then
fell in love with it,'' Lang said.
''I don't know how I got involved in it; it's like I was almost supposed
to do it.''
She started skating at a rink in Redwood, Calif., and then moved to
Michigan with her mother, Leslie Dixon. Fortunately for Lang, there was
an ice rink near where her mother worked.
''I loved it so much; I was always there.''
Lang did not grow up in a wealthy household like many Olympic stars. Her
mother, a nurse, worked extra hours and on the night shift to help her
daughter.
Lang's busy schedule does take her away from her 2-year-old daughter,
Lillia; but then, as Lang said, ''Right now in her life she is getting
to know her grandmother well. It's not as bad as it seems, but I miss
her so much when I'm away.''
Lang said she'll probably spend a couple more years on tour and then,
when she's in her early 30s, focus more attention on family and
coaching. She added that her passion is choreography: ''That's what I do
best.''
Lang said she is doing more to embrace her cultural heritage and work
with American Indian youth. She currently lives near New York City, in
an area without a close-knit Native community, so a recent trip to
Florida and a meeting with the youth from the Seminole Tribe was special
for her as well as for the children.
At the exhibition and tour, tribal youth were brought onto the ice with
Lang. ''They all came out and skated with me. You never know, some
skated for the first time; I like to get kids motivated.''
Lang rose up the ladder to the Olympic stage with five national ice
dance titles. With her partner, Russian-born Peter Tchernyshev, the two
wowed audiences and at the 2002 Olympics received a standing ovation.
Lang and Tchernyshev recently participated in NBC's month of ice dancing
specials. The two used the backdrop of the Seminole Tribe's Hard Rock
Casino in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
And now her passion has become multi-generational: Lillia has taken to
the ice.
''She actually loves skating so much. I didn't want her to skate at
first, but I had a pair of my niece's skates - little, tiny skates - and
she said, 'momma kates.' I put them on her and she walked around the
house for two hours.
''She has been skating since she was a year and now she knows how to
lift her leg. She learns from watching me,'' Lang said.
When Lang is home she has quite a few students, and she plans to include
more after she retires from touring. She also has some more motivation
to stay home - she will be married in late summer to Mark Fitzgerald, a
fellow coach who competed in the world championships.
Fitzgerald proposed to Lang on the rink after a show in early December
2006 just after the skaters in the show were taking their bows. It was a
surprise for Lang.
Lang knows her responsibility to American Indian youth as a role model
and she plans to encourage more young people to pursue their dreams.
''I try to be the best role model I can for Native American youth,'' she
said.
''I grew up with not much money and I ended up going to the Olympics.
You always have to believe in yourself.
''Don't give up on what you believe in. If you want to do something, you
can do it.''