Bio

Born in Bogota, Colombia, Eliot came to the United States as an infant. "I was adopted as a five month old baby," he said.

He started skating years later. "I began skating at the age of 6 on the pond in my backyard," Eliot said. "I copied the moves and jumps of skaters I saw on television."

Eliot received his first pair of real figure skates as a gift for his seventh birthday. "I skated on the pond the whole day," he said. "I thought I could land triple Axels if I turned my head really fast in the air."

"My mom said I wouldn't come in from skating that night," Eliot said. "I cried because I wanted to sleep on the ice."

Eliot started U.S. Figure Skating's Basic Skills Program soon after. He began private lessons in spring 1998 following the World Championships, which were held in nearby Minneapolis.

"My mom let me skip out of first grade the whole week to watch all the events," said Eliot, who later switched from public school to home schooling as he progressed in skating.

"I was mesmerized," Eliot said. "Two months later, I started private lessons and competed at the Beginner Level that August."

His competitive highlights include his bronze medal from the 2003 U.S. Junior Championships, where he competed as a juvenile. Eliot also won the intermediate title at the 2004 U.S. Junior Championships.

Other competitive highlights include his silver from the 2005 North American Challenge Skate, where he competed as a novice, and his pewter medal from the 2005 U.S. Championships, where he also competed as a novice.

Eliot finished his novice career by winning the gold medal at the 2005 Triglav Trophy international competition. He won the 2006 U.S. Championships as a novice.

Eliot competed for the first time as a junior in the 2006-07 season. He won two bronze medals on the Junior Grand Prix, at events in Hungary and the Netherlands. Then he turned his attention to the nationals.

His goal for the season was "to make it on the podium as a junior at Nationals," he said. But Eliot did more than step on the podium when the nationals skated into in Spokane, Wash.

He became a two-time national champion at the 2007 U.S. Championships after sweeping the short program and the free skate. With the win, Eliot qualified to represent the United States at the World Junior Championships, where he placed 10th.

In recognition of an accomplished career, although in progress, April 21 was proclaimed "Eliot Halverson Day" in the City of St. Paul, Minn., by St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman.

Deputy Mayor Ann Mulholland formally delivered the "Eliot Halverson Day" proclamation following Eliot's performance in the St. Paul Figure Skating Club Ice Show at Richfield Ice Arena in Richfield, Minn.

Skating before his hometown crowd of St. Paul, Eliot finished 13th at the 2008 U.S. Championships in his senior debut. He matched that result at the 2009 nationals.

Eliot lists one of his foremost skating goals as winning the U.S. Championship as a senior. He would also like to make the World Championship team and an Olympic team.

Off the ice, he enjoys reading classics. His other hobbies include "searching out new musical artists, learning to speak Swahili, trimming my Bonsai tree" and "going to the movies," Eliot said with a laugh.

Eliot has one older brother who was also born in Bogota, Colombia. His younger sister was born in Asuncion, Paraguay. Eliot also has three half or step siblings.

He also has a golden retriever and a cockatiel.

Eliot gives people a glimpse into his daily life on both Twitter and YouTube. Follow him him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/SkateGreat2010. His YouTube channel is at www.youtube.com/user/SkateGreat2010.