Alissa Czisny Back in Spokane to Vie for the Gold

2009 reigning U.S. Ladies Champion Alissa Czisny, who earned her first U.S. senior medal—a bronze—at the 2007 U.S. Championships in Spokane, is back once again, to vie for the gold and a spot on the U.S. Olympic team, which will be heading to Vancouver 18 days after the Championships end in Spokane.

Alissa has been coached by Julianne Berlin for 10 years now, but has also been trained in specific areas by Yuka Sato, Linda Leaver, Brian Boitano, and Natalia Deller.

Her programs will be choreographed by David Wilson to the music of the Mask of Zorro soundtrack by James Horner and the Dr. Zhivago soundtrack by Maurice Jarre .

This past year has been a busy one for Alissa. After winning the U.S. National title in January 2009, she went on to finish first at the Nebelhorn Trophy in September, fourth at the Rostelecom Cup in October, and took the silver at Skate Canada November 21. For the last few years, she also was a full-time college student at Bowling Green State University, but graduated summa cum laude last May.

So does 3 years older mean she’ll give three times the performance she did in 2007?

Alissa talks about feeling how she’s matured from her past experiences and that she’s just now reaching her prime. Watch the video below.