Girdwood figure skater Keegan Messing is headed to South Korea for the 2018 Winter Olympics soon.<\/p>\n
But first, he stopped by the Alaska State Capitol.<\/p>\n
The 25-year-old, who was just named to the Canadian Olympic figure skating team on Sunday, traveled to the capital city Friday, where he met Gov. Bill Walker and a Canadian consulate. Later in the day, Rep. Jennifer Johnston, R-Anchorage, introduced Messing on the House of Representatives floor, eliciting a round of applause from lawmakers.<\/p>\n
Messing holds dual-citizenship in both the United States and Canada. After years of competing as an American, Messing began skating for Canada during the 2014-15 season.<\/p>\n
“I feel like because I am born and raised in Alaska and the relationship between Alaska and Canada, I feel very confident that I can very proudly represent Alaska as well as Canada,” Messing said.<\/p>\n
The announcement came the day after Messing’s second-place finish in the senior mens division at the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships in Vancouver, British Colombia.<\/p>\n
And while legislators may have never heard of him before Friday, members of the Juneau Skating Club certainly have.<\/p>\n
For eight of the last nine years, Messing has been a guest skater at the club’s annual spring show. Messing enjoys doing local shows around the state.<\/p>\n
“I try to build skating up and I try to build it because it’s something I love and something that is fun and has lessons you can learn and put into your life at any point in time,” Messing said.<\/p>\n
The Winter Olympics begin Feb. 9 in Pyeongchang County.<\/p>\n
• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nolin.ainsworth@juneauempire.com.<\/b><\/p>\n
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