On Thin Ice: Deep River, Connecticut, Skater Chelsea Rose Chiappa Seeks Olympic Success

DEEP RIVER - In this small rural town lives a 15-year-old ice skater named Chelsea Rose Chiappa who is working hard to become the next Olympic award winner.

Andrea Chiappa, Chelsea's mother, said that Chelsea's love for ice skating is "a real passion, it is a joy for her."

At age five, this passion for ice skating began after Chiappa visited the Norwich Municipal Ice Rink.

"Even when I fell, I decided to get back up again," Chiappa said.

Five years later, Chiappa set a lofty goal for herself, to compete in the Olympics.

In order to meet that goal, she has received training at the Champions Skating Center in Cromwell five days each week.

Trainer Tiesha Coale met Chiappa in 1999.

"She is really dedicated and devoted...skating is a really big commitment on her part and on her family's part," Coale said.

The latest and largest accomplishment of Chiappa was placing fourth at the Hungarian National ice skating competition in the senior lady division.

It's quite an accomplishment for a young lady who had only previously competed in the junior lady division.

"I enjoyed going there because it's my home country," Chiappa said, adding that this was the first time she has traveled outside the country to skate.

Previous to this, Chiappa's two largest accomplishments were winning fourth place at the New England Regional Competition in Marlborough, Mass. allowing her to advance to the Eastern Sectional Competition in Atlanta where she earned 12th place.

During the 2006-2007 season, Chiappa placed sixth place at the Cranberry Open in Hingaham, Mass., and placed third place at the Summer Challenge in Marlborough, Mass.

In addition to competitions, Chiappa has participated in numerous shows including UMASS Attack 2005 at the University of Massachusetts, the Connecticut College Ice Show in New London in 2005, performing as the lead role, Clara, in the Nutcracker on Ice in Norwich in 2003, participating in the Expressions on Ice at the Mohegan Sun Casino in 2003, and performing as the lead role, the sugar plum fairy, at Nutcracker on Ice in Norwich in 2002.