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News
Catching Up
Jennifer Kirk finds new life in broadcasting
Former World Junior Champion co-hosts new Internet talk show
By Jamie M. Blanchard
Jennifer Kirk won the senior ladies bronze medal at the 2004 U.S. Championships
(May 18, 2007) — For most of her teenage years, three-time U.S. senior medalist Jennifer Kirk was one of the top skaters in the world, winning medals at international competitions including gold at both the 2000 World Junior Championships and 2002 Four Continents Championships.
Now 22, the Los Angeles based Kirk is embarking on a career as a broadcast journalist. She currently co-hosts the Internet current event talk show Oh My God. Did You Hear?, which debuted May 11 on YouTube.
The two-time World team member turned talk show host recently sat down with Figure Skaters Online to discuss how her life has changed since she hung up her skates almost two years ago.
____________________________________
Jamie: The last time many of us saw you, you just retired from competitive figure skating and were beginning to coach in Boston, near your hometown of Newton, Mass. What brought you back to Southern California?
Jennifer: I actually moved back out to Los Angeles about a year ago. I had been living in Wyoming for a couple of months after leaving Boston. I came out here to visit some friends in LA and I just knew the time was right to move, and LA was place for me. I'm so happy living here and I feel so blessed to have such incredible people around me now.
Jamie: Now that your back in Los Angeles, what is your average day like?
Jennifer: Well, my days now are a lot different than they were when I was a skater. I finally have the ability to be a normal young adult and I don't have any sort of a schedule I have to follow. I feel very lucky that I'm able to do whatever I want and just relax without the stress of competing or training now.
Definitely, every day, my favorite thing to do is to spend time with my boyfriend, Kevin. If neither one of us are working or if I don't have a class or anything scheduled, we usually go out to lunch and just hang out at one of our apartments. We're pretty low-key and we just enjoy each other's company.
He has been such a wonderful part of my life this past year and I've never felt such unconditional love from another person before. Kevin is an aspiring director, so we both enjoy going to the movies and watching our favorite shows on TV. Right now, we're really into the NBA and we're both cheering for different teams, so we can become really competitive and that's a lot of fun.
I also like to go to the gym every day and make sure to call my sister. I'm really lucky that our relationship has become a lot more close these past two years and I always find it really important to check in with her.
Everyday, I also spend a lot of time reading. It has become a huge passion for me, and I also love writing. I've been through a lot of difficult times so far in my life and I would love to write a book one day for young girls to help anyone who may be going through some of the things that I have overcome. I feel like I have a lot to say and I would love it if by learning about my personal struggles I could help just one person.
Jamie: You're currently studying broadcast journalism at a Los Angeles area college. How did you become so interested in broadcasting?
Jennifer: Both my parents worked in TV, and my dad is still a television reporter, writer, producer and director. I remember when I was a kid and my mom would take us to the TV station she worked at on the weekends, I'd sneak into the studio where they taped their shows to play "anchor lady".
I also always loved the television and media aspect of skating. It's strange because I almost felt more comfortable during interviews and doing things for the media than I did on the ice.
Jamie: Your newest project is hosting the online talk show Oh My God. Did You Hear? with your friend David Lewis, who is former figure skater turned actor. How did you meet David?
Jennifer: I actually met David a couple of years ago at the Skate Detroit competition. We didn't become friends, though, until after I stopped skating. I remember right after I made my decision to quit the sport I drove 15 hours alone to Wyoming where my sister was living at the time. I felt like I needed to be in a loving, supportive environment during that tough initial transition.
One of the first nights I was in Wyoming, I received the sweetest voice mail message from David. He seemed to really understand what I was going through in a way that I was so surprised at. He really seemed to know me even though we had hardly spent any time together at all. We became close throughout the next year, and when I came out to LA to visit last May we hit it off and decided to get an apartment together and become roommates.
Jamie: Now, how did the idea for the show come about?
Jennifer: I was watching different shows on YouTube one day when the idea came to me. David is an actor and I thought it would be great practice for the both of us to put ourselves out there in front of a camera on a weekly basis.
A couple of months ago we bought a new MacBook laptop computer which has a built in camera and editing system. We started to tape ourselves and fool around with the computer and it was so much fun. We really thought only a couple of our friends would watch the show and I think we're both surprised at the positive response that we have received.
Jamie: The name Oh My God. Did You Hear? is great. Where did it come from?
Jennifer: David actually came up with the name. We were bouncing ideas back and forth and we just thought it was a fitting name for a gossip-type show.
Jamie: What was the process of turning the idea of Oh My God. Did you Hear? into an actual show that more than a thousand people have already viewed on YouTube?
Jennifer: It was really a quick and fun process. The two of us had a meeting about the different things we might like to discuss during the show. Jen Don came over one night and I asked if she would want to be featured in our first episode. She agreed and the next night she came over and we did the interview.
Kevin went to film school so he was able to help us a little bit with lighting and where to position the camera, although we didn't listen to him for some of the shots and they turned out a little funny. So it was really a collaborative group effort. David stayed up late for a couple of nights doing the edit ting and we were both able to finish the final product by that Friday.
Jamie: From your years in skating, you were used to performing in front of thousands of people. But did it take some time for you to get comfortable talking in front the camera?
Jennifer: It really didn't take any time at all. I love doing this and I feel really happy and passionate when I'm in front of any sort of a camera whether it's for television or print.
Jamie: In your first episode, you talked about everything from Paris Hilton to pairs skating in less than 10 minutes. How do you decide what will be talked about for each episode?
Jennifer: David and I have a meeting in my bed every Sunday morning over breakfast to decide things that we want to talk about in the opening segment. Each week we are trying to have a guest on our show, so we think about people who may want to participate and what we could talk to them about.
David works at a talent agency so he hears a lot of the newest gossip, so we usually will try to incorporate that into the show as well.
Jamie: And what can people expect for future episodes?
Jennifer: Hopefully more excitement, better shots, different set changes and more guests. We are trying to get on a bunch of different skaters as well as people we know from our day-to-day lives that have stuff to say.
Jamie: Also in your first episode, you chatted a little bit with 2003 Nebelhorn Trophy Champion Jennifer Don, who now competes for Chinese Taipei. Who can figure skating fans expect to see on future episodes of Oh My God. Did You Hear?
Jennifer: Next week, we are planning to have [1999 Canadian Junior Champion] Fedor Andreev on the show, so people can watch for that.
Jamie: Speaking of skating, are you still involved with skating?
Jennifer: I'm not involved in the sport anymore. I did coach a little bit after I quit skating, but I think it was really important for me to just take a total break from the sport. Skating was my whole life—really my identity for so long that in order to find out who I truly was as a person, and not just an athlete, I had to distance myself for a while to find new passions outside of the sport.
Jamie: Looking back on your skating career, there were several highlights for the fans—including your spectacular performance to "Chicago" at the 2004 U.S. Championships in Atlanta. What moments stick out for you?
Jennifer: Definitely, Junior Worlds in 2000. I was so focused that week and when I look back on what I was able to accomplish there it makes me extremely proud.
I also am really proud of all my short programs at nationals. I remember my first year senior, 2000, I fell in my short program and I was crushed. I think I was in 11th place and I was so sad that I wasn't going to be in the final group and shown on TV.
Every year since then, the day of the short program I would think of that sinking feeling that I felt after I messed up and I would get really determined to skate a clean program and land a spot in the top six. And, thankfully, I always did that. So that is something I am very proud of as well.
Jamie: A lot of people were surprised when you retired from the sport before the start of the most recent Olympic season because you were on the podium at 2005 nationals and competed at two Worlds. Do you still feel it was the right decision for you?
Jennifer: It was definitely the right decision. It's strange—anyone who knew me or had skated with me growing up would say that striving to be a part of the Olympics was the most important thing in my life. I wanted to go to the Olympics more than anything and it pushed me during practice every day for years and years. However, nothing could have prepared me for the direction my life was headed the years leading up to 2006.
After my mom died, I never really got a chance to mourn her passing. I was back on the ice the next day and I had to skate in an ice show the next week. I was never given a chance to just feel what had happened and I learned really quickly how to stuff my feelings and pretend to be happy when I was not. Overtime, without her in my life, I lost myself and the emptiness inside of me began to grow. I didn't have that constant love and support and without that, my passion for skating and my life started to dwindle.
When I moved to Michigan, I really wanted to improve and be the skater that Mr. Callaghan, my Dad, my agent and everyone around me wanted me to be. But I felt like no matter how hard I worked and tried, I was falling and messing up and I couldn't make them all proud. I started to take this out on myself and I really started to hate myself. I went into a very dark internal place and I developed an eating disorder and a lot of really self-destructive habits.
I thought that by moving from Michigan to LA and changing my scenery and having new people around me I would be able to find joy not only for the sport but also in my life in general. I wasn't able to do that and unfortunately, the struggles I was having with my eating disorder and myself in general worsened and really brought me down. I was continually looking outside myself for happiness, comfort, love, and support from people, things and self-destructive behaviors.
It came to a point that summer when I decided to quit, that I knew I wasn't going to be able to make it to Torino in the physical and emotional state that I was in. All my joy for the sport had vanished because I was so preoccupied with what I was doing to myself off the ice, and I was really going through the motions. I had no love in my life and I knew I had to stand up and find help and fix myself as a person and ultimately that was much more important than going to the Olympics.
I moved to Boston and I started a two-year journey to find recovery and health and happiness. As much as I had missed skating and I wish all the sadness and loss that I had to overcome had never been a part of my life, the fact that I "saved" myself and got help and am healthy and happy now is the most important thing to me. And I feel so thankful and blessed to be where I am today and that's worth more than being a part of any Olympic team to me.
Jamie: That's such a healthy perspective. Even if you're not coming back to competition, do you plan to return to the ice for any future performances like Champions on Ice, which you used to tour with?
Jennifer: I don't have any plans to return to the ice. Sometimes I do miss the performance aspect of the sport, but skating was a part of my past and now I'm much more happy to sit in the stands and cheer the skaters on.
Jamie: On your show, you offered some thoughts on the current skating scene. How often do you tune into skating now that you're on the other side of the boards?
Jennifer: Every year, I try to catch Nationals. I remember this past year David, Jen and I hung out to catch the men and ladies long programs and it was a lot of fun. I was so surprised that so many of the young skaters that were just coming up in the ranks when I was still competing are doing so well now. They are all grown up and it was really great to cheer them on.
Other than that, I might tune in if I see it's on, but I more enjoy watching the old tapes on YouTube from the early 90's with David. Our favorites are old Tonya Harding tapes. She is a lot of fun to watch.
Jamie: What do you think about the American ladies of today?
Jennifer: I think the American ladies are great. I am always impressed with Kimmie's ability to skate well under pressure and I think Emily is a great performer. Alissa has wonderful spins and extension which really help her in the new code of points.
Jamie: Do you ever see yourself in the broadcast booth as a skating commentator?
Jennifer: I think it would be fun to be a skating commentator. If the opportunity ever came up, I would jump at the chance. I definitely have a lot of knowledge about the sport.
Jamie: What would be your dream job?
Jennifer: I would love to be the next Oprah. I love her show and I just overall think she's a great person. I think definitely having my own talk show or news show would be incredible. I feel like I have a lot to say now and I've love to get my voice out there.
Jamie: I know that you're just getting your start in broadcasting but you're off to a great start. Do you have any advice to offer to people trying to break into the field?
Jennifer: I don't know because I feel like I'm trying to break into it myself. But really with anything I think as long as you're doing what you love and you're staying true to yourself and who you truly are then that's all that matters.
Jamie: And what advice would you offer to young skaters?
Jennifer: I would say definitely follow your heart and passion in anything you do. As long as skating is fun for you and you love it, then that's all that matters. It can be a tough sport because it's so subjective. But, skating for the joy of it and not worrying too much about the whole competitive aspect usually is the most healthy approach.
Sometimes I get nervous when I see these young skaters who stop going to public school and skating seems to become the most important thing in their lives. I think I would tell them and their parents that it's really important to make sure to have a balance and allow themselves to be "normal" kids away from the ice and enjoy things outside the sport.
Jamie: Jen, we're glad that you were able to find much to enjoy outside of skating. Is there anything else that you would like to say to your fans?
Jennifer: I just want to say thank you to everyone who has supported me over the years. It always feels incredible to me now when I receive an e-mail or a message from someone telling me how much they enjoyed my skating. It definitely makes me feel like all the hard work I put into the sport was well worth it and so I want to thank you very, very much.
Jamie: Thanks for talking to Figure Skaters Online about the newest chapter in life. And good luck in everything that you encounter Jen.
____________________________________
To view the new Internet current events talk show Oh My God. Did You Hear?, hosted by Jennifer Kirk and David Lewis from their Southern California apartment, visit the Oh My God. Did You Hear? page on YouTube at www.youtube.com/profile?user=Ohmygoddidyouhear. The next episode is scheduled for May 25.
The show also has a MySpace page at www.myspace.com/ohmygoddidyouhear.
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Page Revised on
May 18, 2007
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