Skating Life

& After winning the Olympic Gold in 1976 at age 19, Dorothy Hamill was ?America?'s Sweetheart? and an idol to millions.& She swept the nation with her signature haircut, ?Hamill? camel spin, and sparkling smile.& But this gifted and supremely talented figure skater lived a life off the ice encumbered with family and financial tribulations.& She and her mother spent long months away from her father and siblings so she could properly train, and Dorothy often questioned whether the outcome was worth the sacrifice as she attempted to handle an emotionally unavailable mother, alcoholic father, and a financial toll on her entire family.& & & Skating has always been Dorothy?'s only means of escape, but an intense depression took over when Dorothy found that success did not wash away the constant stress of trying to please her parents and coaches.& She married the love of her life, Dean Paul Martin, only to face devastation when he was tragically killed in a plane crash shortly after their marriage ended.& Dorothy was plummeted into an even deeper depression and struggled to find fulfillment.& When she was finally capable of opening her heart to love again, she remarried and gave birth to her daughter, only to be taken advantage of by her philandering second husband who stole her money.& The burden of the strained relationship with her parents on top of her broken heart tested Dorothy?'s strength?but she prevailed.& & Dorothy has found the silver lining (or should I say ?gold? lining?) in often painful times, and todayDorothy is content in her life with her daughter and a reconciliation with her mother?and as always, in her skating.Hamill, Dorothy is the author of 'Skating Life ', published 2007 under ISBN 9781401303280 and ISBN 1401303285.