Jeremy Abbott

When Jeremy Abbott leaves the ice in St. Paul, don’t be surprised if pigs go flying through the air. His supporters from the Pigs Can Fly Club will be there in full force as he tries to better his pewter medal performance from the 2007 U.S. Championships.

"Stranger things could happen. Pigs could fly," Abbott said shortly before winning the 2005 U.S. Championship in junior men's. Stuffed pigs of all shapes and sizes have been littering the ice following his performances ever since.

"I created a monster," Abbott joked in a recent interview with Figure Skaters Online.

Abbott did not qualify for the 2006 U.S. Championships as a senior. But he came back the next season to finish first at the Finlandia Trophy, first at the Midwestern Sectional, fourth at the U.S. Championships and third at Four Continents.

"I am extremely proud of the accomplishments that I made this past season," Abbott said in an August journal entry. "But I expect that these were just small steps to a bigger and better career."

Earlier this season, he helped Team USA win the International Counter Match team event. Abbott also made his Grand Prix debut at Skate Canada with an eighth place performance and followed it up at NHK Trophy with a fourth place finish.

He hopes to continue his international season following a top three finish at nationals.

In his spare time, likes to draw, read and write. Abbott also maintains the Jeremy Abbott Training Fund. Started in 2005, the fund provides financial assistance to boys skating competitively for the Aspen Figure Skating Club, which was his first club.

For more information on Abbott, visit figureskatersonline.com/jeremyabbott/.

— Jamie M. Blanchard

Figure Skaters Online's Guide to the 2008 U.S. Championships is
written and produced by Figure Skaters Online in cooperation with the athletes and staff.

Photographs are courtesy of Leah Adams unless otherwise noted.