Bel Air’s Kimmie Meissner Goes To Washington

Posted on Tuesday, May 30th, 2006 at 7:36 pm

The president opened his home Wednesday to the “dudes and dudettes” of the 2006 Winter Olympic Team — including one very special Maryland ice princess.

Kimmie Meissner is used to hearing “congratulations.” After all, she is the reigning world champion.

But on Wednesday, her visit to the White House was really something special.

“The fact that you compete hard, and train hard, and set high goals, and succeed is a really important part of encouraging others to follow in your footsteps,” President George W. Bush told the athletes.

“It was cool and definitely like I expected. He was a nice guy, and it was fun. I liked hearing him talk, it made me very proud to be on the team,” Meissner said.

The 16-year-old Bel Air skating phenom stood proud on the south lawn of the White House as the president honored 192 Winter Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

“We love it when the Star Spangled Banner is played. We also understand that not everybody is going to win the gold, but we appreciate so much the fact that you competed so hard and in such a way that brought honor to our country,” Bush said.

The team brought the president an Olympic torch.

“That’s what I would have picked; that’s a very good gift. It’s definitely something you’re going to remember … it’s a good gift for the Olympic team to give,” Meissner said.

Instead of a summer vacation, Meissner will return to the ice to work on two brand-new skating programs.

And, by the way, the prom was awesome.

“I went to the prom and I had a good time with my friends and I had fun dancing and it was a good dance,” Meissner said.

While in Washington, the athletes also attended a post-Olympic career summit organized to help them transition into the real world.

The torch, along with all the other trinkets and tokens the president received, goes directly to the White House gift office, where it will be stored until it eventually moves to the Bush Library as part of the presidential archives. - TheWBALChannel.com