Kimmie Graduates!

Posted on Friday, June 1st, 2007 at 2:49 am

In the coming days, around 55,000 high school seniors will graduate in Maryland with many of them going on to accomplish great things.

But, as Mike Schuh reports, one of the graduates who walked across the stage Thursday has already accomplished a world of gold.

Fallston High School’s Kimmie Meissner has solidified herself as one of the world’s premiere figure skaters, and on Thursday she added to her long list of accomplishments by accepting her high school diploma.

The world-renowned Olympian crossed the stage at Towson University along with hundreds of other graduates from Fallston in Harford County.

“I was pretty nervous today to walk across the stage,” said Meissner. “I was afraid I was going to trip or do something silly, but I was happy that I just kept walking.”

Meissner’s parents said they were glad their daughter was able to stay in public school unlike many of the world’s top young athletes whose busy schedules often force them into home schooling or private schools.

“I think that being in public high school was very important for her to stay grounded,”said Kimmie’s mom Judy Meissner.

“She’s pretty much stayed so level-headed and she is a normal kid,” said Meissner’s father Paul Meissner. He added, “I’ve seen some people who have been in her position who get pretty heady you know what I mean?”

Although she has graduated, Meissner will still have trouble finding time off.

On Saturday, she will head to Canada to meet with her choreographer to work on her new skating routines for the fall competitions.

WJZ Baltimore