Karen Zhou: Grace Under Pressure
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Image List:
Image 1: UC Irvine undergraduate and competitive figure skater Karen Zhou gets into a low spin during a practice session at The Skating Edge ice arena in Harbor City.
Image 2: Zhou gets some pointers from coach Alex Chang at the East West Ice Palace in Artesia.
Image 3: "I like skating and school to be separate worlds. That helps me achieve balance," Zhou says.
Image 4: Zhou, a UCI business administration major, heads to class at The Paul Merage School of Business after studying in the Student Center.
Image 5: Zhou awaits a handout in her business management science class. Both skating and business are highly competitive, she notes.
Image 6: Zhou jumps while practicing her routine at The Skating Edge. Her favorite element is also her hardest: the triple lutz.
Image 7: Under the watchful eye of her mother, Zhou skates at the East West Ice Palace. "I can travel without a coach," she says, "but not without my mom."
Image 8: Zhou gets some study time at the Student Center. She often does her homework in the car while her mother drives her to practice.
Image 9: Before practice, Zhou shares a laugh with friends and mentors Derrick Delmore (center) and Karen Oppegard.
Image 10: Zhou hopes to compete for the United States in the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Image 11: Zhou laces up her skates before a practice. She puts in a three- to four-hour session on the ice daily.
Image 12: Zhou holds her opening pose as she awaits the first few notes of her routine.
Image 13: In a rare quiet moment, Zhou readies herself before practice at The Skating Edge.
Image 14: As she's matured, Zhou's artistic presentation has improved along with her technical prowess. She works with a choreographer on elements such as facial expression and hand movement.
Image 15: Zhou studies with her laptop at the Student Center. She hopes to earn an M.B.A. and use her skating background in business.
Image 16: Skating "gives me a sense of freedom," Zhou says. "This is where I belong."
© 2013 UC Regents
