Maine Teenager Invited To Train In Lake Placid For Olympic Team

9/13/2012 (Updated 9/14/2012 8:26:48 AM)

Sometimes when you work hard enough, dreams, big dreams can come true, even dreams of Olympic proportions.  Tom Allen shows us.

For 16 year old Si Ning Chan of Maine, her hard work as a gymnast and a downhill ski racer are  paying off.  She's been invited to Lake Placid to train at the Olympic Training Center as an aerialist on the U.S. Ski Team.

"Its so exciting, I never thought I'd be in this place where I am now.  It is great to be in training with all the people that I never thought I'd be able to train with. 

Si Ning started training last month,  but since she''s been gone she not only misses her family, but her old routine.

"I miss my friends a lot, I miss gymnastics.  Bars was my favorite event.  I miss being able to go swing on the bars, but this is a new beginning and I hope I can go really far in this and make it worth it.

The teenager has been skiing since she was 3 years old and doing gymnastics since she was 4.  Her skiing coach Nick Brewster says she's a dynamic competitor.

"I'm very sad to see her stop ski racing and become an aerialist because she's got a strong ski racing future also."

Hadley Tisinger has been her gymnastics coach.

"Si Ning is a really good worker, very talented and made the biggest commitment being there every day and working really hard.

"This month Si Ning would have been a junior here at Maine Endwell High School, but since she's living and training in Lake Placid, she's continuing her education with online classes through the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association Academy.

Si Ning still has a long road ahead of her, but she's up for the challenge and her family couldn't be more proud.

"Its all very good timing, things all coming together at the same time.  what can I say, its quite an honor to be a part of this." said her father Wai Chan.

"If I make it I know I'll put my heart and soul into everything I do so I can do my best there.

In Maine, Tom Allen, Fox 40 News.

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