Name Brooke Castile Birthdate May 31, 1986 Birthplace Detroit, Mich. Hometown Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.

Brooke Castile started skating the day her younger brother was born in 1993.

"I went to my Nana's house and skated for the first time on the canal in her backyard," she said. "I took to the ice naturally, so she enrolled me in a 6 week class. I have been skating ever since."

Brooke competed on the sectional level as a singles skater.

"I had been asked for several years by several different guys to pair skate while I was still competing in singles," she said. I had said no time after time because I wasn’t ready for a change or the kind of commitment."

But in 2002, she started pair skating with longtime friend Benjamin Okolski.

"At the 2001 Midwestern Sectionals, I had a terrible competition and was feeling low about skating.  Ben had approached me about skating with him.  Ben and I were friends for years before this and I was finally ready for a change."

The pair has collected ten medals including gold at the 2007 U.S. Championships.

"The most defining moment in my career was skating a flawless program, and getting a standing ovation, to win the national title this year," she said. "I have been picturing that moment in my head my whole life, and to actually live it is beyond words."

But winning is not her favorite part about skating.

"I love the way it feels to just skate," Brooke said. "I love to feel free on the ice, and just skate from my heart all the way through my fingertips. 

I love performing and the rush of competition.  Most of all I love pushing myself to new limits and skate harder, fly higher, and just put my mind, body, and soul into the ice."

Brooke has several pre-competition rituals to help her succeed.

"I tune into my iPod and tune everybody out. I have certain songs that I listen to," she said. "'You Can't Always Get What You Want' by the The Rolling Stones, which was my theme for my life this year. I listened to it right before we took the ice for the long at nationals. 'Don’t Drink The Water' by Dave Matthews Band and 'Rock Super Star' by Cypress Hill are just some of the songs I always listen to."

She also receives a special phone call before competing.
 
"My Nana calls me the morning of my competition and tells me 'Break a leg,'" she said. "She’s been doing it since I started competing."

Brooke also enjoys art, photography and fashion design.

"My goal is to live the most fulfilled life I can, and to have no regrets. Keep a wonderful family in my life always and forever," Brooke said about her off ice ambitions. "Also, I would love to become a fashion designer one day."

She designs the costumes that the pair wears.