By Barbara Reichert
Leave it to Mariah Bell to brighten everyone’s day during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Bell agreed to be the first Team USA athlete to go live with fans as she participated in a Zoom teleconference meeting on April 3.
As a thank-you for their support, Friends of Figure Skating members were invited to ask questions and actually see what Bell’s life is like during the quarantine.
The surprise? Bell is living in an RV in Palm Springs, California, with her parents and sister Morgan, who performs the role of Anna in Disney on Ice’s “Frozen.”
“My parents sold our house in Colorado,” Bell said, “so this is really great because I haven’t had much time to spend with my sister since she started skating with Disney six or seven years ago.”
During the 30-minute chat, Bell introduced her rabbit, Gizmo (“Life hasn’t changed much for him”), declared she’s going to learn French so she can speak with boyfriend Romain Ponsart’s parents, and promised to post a handmade craft at the end of the quarantine period.
Bell said she stays busy doing virtual off-ice workouts with her trainer in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and “doing a lot of rollerblading with proper social distancing, of course.”
“Skating is so small and unimportant now,” she said near the end of the conversation. “This really puts things in perspective. I look forward to the day when everyone is healthy and we can all get back on the ice again.”
Mariah Bell talked with Friends of Figure Skating members earlier this month
Editor’s note: To participate in chats like these and receive other great benefits, become a Friends of Figure Skating member today. U.S. silver medalist Jason Brown will be the next guest for Friends of Figure Skating members on Friday, April 24.
