Helena Rose Bonavita, a 12 year old who recently graduated from Cazenovia Middle School, achieved the highest level in U.S Figure Skating(USFS) by passing her gold medal test in Moves in the Field in Ithaca on July 16. This senior level test is only attempted after successfully completing seven previous levels, each with increasing difficulty, under the intense scrutiny of three USFS judges.
Becoming a U.S. Figure Skating gold medalist is the culmination of many years of hard work and dedication to the sport. In a typical year, approximately 40,000 U.S. Figure Skating test levels are completed by athletes; of those, about 1,300, or 3 percent, are at the gold or senior level. Bonavita has been working on these Moves for the past five years.
Bonavita will also be testing her four gold level dances later this year in front of three USFSA judges after successfully completing the previous 17 tests. She also recently passed her Juvenile Freestyle test and is working towards her gold medal in this event as well.
Bonavita has also competed at the North Atlantic Regional Championships and the State Games of America, medaling in both. She trains five days a week and averages 10 hours of ice time per week.
Bonavita is coached by Stacy and Jeff Petri as well as Sherry Robbins.
