Meet U.S. Men's Bronze Medalist Ross Miner

Ross Miner started skating in 1995, at age 3. Just one day short of celebrating his 18th birthday, Miner established himself as one of the rising stars of skating, using solid jumps and spins to win the 2009 U.S. Championship in the junior men's event in Cleveland and finish 10th at the World Junior Championships.

"I started skating with hockey but was intrigued by the figure skating sessions that took place after my hockey practice, so my mom bought me a pair of figure skates," said Miner, who played hockey for seven years. "They were white because my feet were so small and we had them dyed black."

After failing to qualify for the 2007 U.S. Championships with a fifth place finish at the Eastern Sectional Championships, Miner channeled his disappointment into his training. His hard work showed as he won Easterns in November 2007 and then second as a novice at the 2008 U.S. Championships. Following the nationals, he made the successful transition to juniors, winning the silver medal at the international Gardena Spring Trophy.

With the junior national title already on growing resume, Miner made his senior debut on the Grand Prix circut in 2010, placing ninth at the NHK Trophy but improving to seventh at the Cup of China. He made his senior national debut at the 2011 U.S. Championships in Greensboro, N.C., taking the bronze medal and earning a spot on the 2011 World Championship Team. He finished 11th at Worlds. In the 2011-12 season, he won his first Grand Prix medal and finished third at nationals. [More]