BUILDING AN OLYMPIAN
Drive, dedication are some of the ingredients of a champion

Cori Boulet stayed up until midnight Saturday watching the opening ceremonies of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, with one thought in her head.

"Hopefully, one day I will be there celebrating," said the 13 year-old Salem, N.H. skater who trains four to five times a week. "It's always been a dream of mine and hopefully I can make it that far."

These days, many Olympic athletes start their careers at young ages; American kids as young 3 are in organized sports according to a National Institute of ChiId Health and Human Development study. While the average 3- to 11 year-old spends about five hours, in organized sports a week, many youths, like Cori, are willing to do whatever it takes to become a success, even if it means giving up other activities "I am definitely willing to try my hardest, especially in the summer. In the summer I can't go out with my friends because l am skating and always keeping up with my school," said Cori, who spends her vacation working.

"The only sport I liked to watch on TV was skating," Cori said. "I thought is was the coolest thing, so I picked it up."

While Cori dreams of making the Olympic team, she skates because she loves the sport - an affection she developed even before putting on her first skates at age six.

Cori doesn't doubt her parents would help her, no matter what. " I know my parents would follow me any way," she said. "They would support me and help me follow my dreams."

Excerpts taken from THE EAGLE TRIBUNE, Wednesday, February 15th 2006 pages 15 & 16. Written by Staff Writer Rosemary Ford

It's a dream that may be attainable, according to her coach, Jen Liccardi of Haverhill. Just a few months ago, Cori placed 16th at her first New England regional skating competition -a precursor to the national championships that yield the Olympic figure skating teams every four years. In other competitions, Cori's taken home gold, the silver, and more than a few bronze medals.

Cori's first shot at the Olympics will come in 2010, and if she gets there, her road there won't be an easy one. Experts agree Cori needs a mixture of talent, drive and more than a little luck However,few can predict the exact formula for Olympic success.