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Catching Up Spielberg, Joeright still happy together after end of competitive career Now married, Spielberg and Joeright enjoying new opportunities on and off the ice
(July 26, 2008) — For two-time national medalists Larisa Spielberg and Craig Joeright, competing together may be a thing of the past — but skating remains a part of their everyday life. "We skate occasionally for some local ice shows," Spielberg said earlier this year. "It's nice to still get out there and perform every once in a while. But as for day-to-day, we don’t skate like we used to." The "we" is almost strictly off-ice for the now married team. Spielberg dedicates most of her ice time to coaching while Joeright, also a coach, is active on the adult competitive scene with partner Judy Sargent. The team won the gold medalists in masters pairs at the 2008 U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships. "I definitely do not miss the day-to-day training, but I do miss being at competitions and being in that atmosphere. I also miss the performance aspect of it," Spielberg said. He misses the consistency of their schedule while competitively skating. But while both miss certain aspects of the competitive life that brought them to the nationals podium in 2000 (bronze) and 2003 (pewter), as well as Skate America, Skate Canada, the World Junior Championships and other internationals, both are enjoying the opportunities skating continues to offer. The two were team leaders for a 2007 developmental international in Canada. "Team leading at Thornhill was an amazing experience," Spielberg said. "These skaters were experiencing being a part of Team USA for the first time and it was great to see all their enthusiasm." Joeright said, "That experience is one that I will remember for a long time. The skaters that participated in that event gave me the encouragement and drive to try and develop skaters that were as well established, trained and dedicated as they were." Both would like to be team leaders again in the future, but the current focus is on coaching at four rinks in the Detroit area. Spielberg and Joeright coach about 30 students, ranging from 7-years-old to age 60, while doing choreography on the side. "I would enjoy participating as a team leader again, but I would enjoy it even more if I was one of the coaches at one of the international competitions," he said. The majority of their students are recreational skaters although some are competitive. "Most of our skaters are single skaters but we do have some interested in pairs and that have competed pairs," Joeright said. "We had one student preparing for junior nationals at the juvenile level but unfortunately some unforeseen events had taken place and therefore was not able to compete." Spielberg and Joeright did not attend the 2008 U.S. Championships in St. Paul, Minn., although they were excited to see how eventual champions Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker performed. "We had a local competition that same weekend that many of our skaters were skating in," Spielberg said. The duo plans to attend the 2009 U.S. Championships in Joeright’s hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. "We have such great memories there, since that’s where we won the bronze in 2000," she said. "God willing, I hope to have a young team participating in the event. However, if this doesn’t happen, I still will be attending," Joeright said. "It's great for Cleveland and last time I was there, it was one of the most memorable times of my life." Aside from coaching, Spielberg and Joeright have plenty to keep them busy. "I currently am the program director of a bridge program at John Lindell Ice Arena in Royal Oak, Mich.," Joeright said. "And I am working a lot to help support the two of us while Larisa goes back to school full time."
Spielberg is continuing her education beyond the Bachelor of Science she received in health science. Joeright has a B.S. in psychology. "I worked at a clinic to get experience before going to physician assistant school," Spielberg said. "I officially started my grad school in May 2008 and will be finished in 2010. I have lots of interests in medicine, mainly pediatrics and sports medicine. But I have yet to decide exactly what specialty I'll go into." She is also active within the U.S. Figure Skating Association. "I currently sit on the athlete advisory committee, nominating committee, pair committee, Special Olympics, therapeutic committee and competitions committee," Spielberg said. She added, "I will always be involved in skating to some degree, whether it is in coaching or on the governing side of the sport." Their hectic schedules leave both with little time but "married life is great," they said. "We hardly see each other since we live such crazy, busy lives," she said. "I am finding out that married life is a give and take relationship, and that communication is our foundation to our successful marriage," Joeright said. "Because of our busy schedules, we have to set time aside to enjoy each others company." Any little Joerights in the future? "No kids yet but we definitely plan on having kids some day, once I'm done with grad school," Spielberg said. "In 10 years, I hope to have a family while being a part time P.A., and possibly coaching a little on the side." He added, "I hope to have a family and have a successful career in coaching competitive skaters." ____________________________________ Before retiring from competitive skating following a sixth place finish at the 2004 U.S. Championships, Spielberg and Joeright won seven medals in national and international competition while training in the Detroit area. The team began their career as juniors in 1999 and won the senior pairs title at 2002 Golden Spin of Zagreb. [TOP] |
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