Champion hopes to skate in Spokane

Win a world championship, and suddenly life becomes a whirlwind.

Kimmie Meissner knows what it’s like to leap from America’s future in women’s figure skating to 2006 world champion.

The 16-year-old won a gold medal three weeks ago in Calgary, Alberta, pulling off one of the biggest upsets in the history of the World Figure Skating Championships.

She also joined a club whose members include Michelle Kwan and Tara Lipinski – U.S. teens who won world titles.

Sarah Hughes was the 2002 Olympic champion at age 16.

Since her career-changing free-skate performance, where she landed seven triple jumps, Meissner has been going faster than a sit spin.

She’s thrown the first pitch on opening day at the Philadelphia Phillies game, skated at the Rockefeller Center rink on the “Today” show, and performed at the Marshalls U.S. Figure Skating International Showcase and the John Hancock Champions on Ice tour, both exhibitions.

Meissner also received a congratulatory e-mail from Cal Ripken Jr. A street in her hometown of Bel Air, Md., was renamed Kimmie Way.

On Sunday, she’ll meet President Bush at the White House where she’ll read books to children. On Monday, she’ll help at the White House annual Easter egg hunt.

There’s also schoolwork for the high school junior, as well as looking ahead to the competitive season, which begins in the fall.

She has set her sights on Spokane, where the 2007 U.S. Figure Skating Championships will be held Jan. 21-28.

She’s never been to Spokane but could make it here in July, if she decides to perform at the Champions on Ice stop.

But before she begins learning her new programs, Meissner plans to continue to skate exhibitions.

As friendly and pleasant as she is talented, Meissner also will continue to give interviews to the national media and local press in the Champions on Ice cities.

However, time is tight for one-on-one talks. The most efficient way to gather information is through a rapid-style Q&A.

Q: When you hear “Spokane, Wash.” what do you think of?

A: Standing on the podium at nationals.

Q: How many Champions on Ice shows do you plan on doing?

A: Right now 10, because I’m still in school.

Q: Is Spokane one of them? It’s in July (27).

A: July? I can do that. That’s one of the ones that maybe I’ll do. My mom and my coach decide.

I’m kinda like, I want to do as many as I can.

I’m going to tell them Spokane is great place, I’d like to go there. I can convince them, I think.

One of my school friends lives there. I haven’t seen her in, like, forever.

Q: Now that you are a world champion, what next?

A: I want to do really good on the senior circuit. Now that I won worlds, a lot of opportunities are open to me. I’d love to do well at nationals.

I’ve got a lot more things I want to do. Obviously, the (2010) Olympics.

Q: You landed seven triple jumps at worlds. Where do you set the bar from there?

A: I don’t know. Are you allowed eight in a program? How about seven, including a triple axel?

Q: What’s the coolest thing that becoming a celebrity has brought you?

A: A lot of little girls want my autograph?

Q: Isn’t there anything more? The little girls have been asking you for your autograph before you won worlds.

A: I don’t know. I haven’t met any, like, actors or anything. I’d like to meet Orlando Bloom.

Q: You’ve appeared on the “Today” show over the years, as recently as last week. Please fill in the blank: Katie Couric, who has been in the news a lot lately, is …

A: … a very nice lady with a lot energy, even more than I have. I like her a lot.

Q: When you’re at the White House this weekend, what would you like to ask George Bush?

A: That’s a good one. I don’t know; I don’t know. But I’ve been thinking about it for a while.

I guess I’ll ask him what it’s like to be president.

Q: What kind of pitch did you throw when you threw out the first pitch at the Phillies’ game?

A: I threw the best pitch ever. It was super fast, and it kinda curved a little bit, and it wasn’t going to go to the ground. It was staying above ground level so that was good. It definitely made it (to the plate). My workout trainer was there, and he said because of him the ball made it there. I’ve been working out.

Q: Is your costume designer going to design your prom dress?

A: No. I already bought my prom dress from the store.

Q: Have you driven on Kimmie Way yet?

A: Oh yeah, I drive down it every day. (I don’t have my license). My mom drives down it, but I’m in the car.