Pasadena’s Elizabeth Hong Wins U.S. Figure Skating Association Award

U.S. Figure Skating (USFS), the national governing body for the sport of figure skating in the United States, has chosen Pasadena figure skating champion Elizabeth Hong as overall winner of the 2021 Athlete Alumni Ambassador (3A) Award.

The 3A Award is a scholarship program that recognizes skaters who have achieved figure skating excellence while actively volunteering.

To be considered for the 2021 award, skaters must have competed at the novice or junior level at the 2020 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships, the 2021 U.S. Championship Series presented by Toyota or the 2021 Toyota U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Candidates were asked to submit a two-minute video explaining how COVID-19 impacted them and their skating community and how they applied new knowledge about themselves and the world to the skating community.

In the award announcement, USFS said time away from the ice during the pandemic helped Elizabeth Hong find a new perspective on the social interactions she and fellow Pasadena FSC skaters were missing out on.

As junior board vice president at the Pasadena FSC, Hong helped organize virtual events where skaters could connect with each other and others in the community, including a virtual 5K in October 2020 raising mental health awareness.

Despite a blade injury and concussion upon her return to training, Hong continues to persevere and be a part of the skating community, the announcement said.

The winners — one overall winner and one winner from the ladies, men’s, pairs, ice dance and synchronized disciplines — were selected by USFS’s Athletes Advisory Committee (AAC).

As overall winner, Hong receives $2,000, while each of the remaining five honorees receives $500, which can be used at the skaters’ discretion.

The other winners are Nathaniel Chen, from Los Angeles FSC for men’s; Allison Zheng, Peninsula SC for ladies; Megan Winch, Hershey FSC for pairs; Katarina Wolfkostin, Peninsula SC for ice dance; and Yvonne Burke, Liberty FSC, Pennsylvania, for synchro.

Meanwhile, the Pasadena Figure Skating Club has joined USFS in condemning anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) hate crimes. A study by Cal State San Bernardino said hate crimes against AAPI communities increased by 164 percent in 16 of America’s largest cities in the last year.

“We pledge to ensure that our club events are safe spaces for our AAPI members,” a Pasadena Figure Skating Club statement said. “We do not tolerate hate speech or other forms of discrimination within our Club.”

Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month this May, USFS held its second DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) Task Force AAPI Heritage Month Instagram Live on May 13, to amplify athlete voices, have meaningful conversations and share the stories of skaters past and present.