Olympic hero Eldredge, coach Callaghan call Germain Arena home
Germain Arena’s youth hockey program has developed a reputation not only around the State of Florida but also the country as developing top hockey talent. The same will soon be said for their figure skating program.
With the addition of National, World and Olympic coaches and skaters the figure skating program at Germain Arena is getting the biggest shot in the arm it could ask for. The addition of the Champions of America Competitive Skating Team will give young figure skating hopefuls the chance at achieving their goal.
Richard Callaghan, who is the Chief Operating Officer of Champions of America Competitive Skating Team, is the leader of this talented group. He has trained National, World and Olympic Champions. His students include Tara Lipinski, who was the 1998 Olympic Champion, Nicole Bobek, who was the 1995 U.S. Champion and 1998 U.S. Olympian, Shizuka Arakawa, who was the 2006 Olympic Champion, Kimmie Meissner, who was the 2006 World Champion and 2006 U.S. Olympian, and Todd Eldredge, who was the 1996 World Champion, three-time U.S. Olympian and six-time U.S. Champion.
Eldredge will be joining Richard at Germain Arena. He currently skates with Stars On Ice, which will be at Germain in March. Eldredge, along with Callaghan, will train local figure skaters as well as the many international skaters who will follow them to Southwest Florida and Germain Arena to train in hopes of one day being an Olympic skater.
Rounding out the Champions of America Competitive Skating Team are Fedor Andreev, a Canadian Bronze Medalist and a 2010 Olympic Team hopeful, Mandy Callaghan, who coaches many Junior World and International skaters, and Danielle Leong, who is a National Team alternate.
For more information on Germain Arena’s Recreational and Competitive Skating programs, log onto www.skateeverblades.com or call 239-948-7825 ext. 1306.