Above: Angie Provost
By Aviva M. Cantor
When we look at the landscape of figure skating in the United States, Ohio is no stranger to the sport.
It played host to the 1987 World Figure Skating Championships in Cincinnati, and more recently, the 2024 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Columbus. Ohio is also the home of many skating legends, including Scott Hamilton, David Jenkins, Hayes Jenkins and Carol Heiss-Jenkins.
One of the few competitions Ohio has never hosted is the Adult Championships, but that’s all about to change. Now in its 29th iteration, the 2024 Prevagen U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships is heading to Cleveland. 
Over 450 competitors will be heading to Cleveland, including the seven “lifers” who have competed in every Adult Championships since the event's inception in 1995: Colleen Conroy, Julie Gidlow, Ted Gradman, Thom Mullins, Dorothy Ray, Walter Horton and Angie Prevost.
It's a sentimental year for Horton and Prevost, who are both Ohioans. Horton moved to Ohio at the age of five and currently lives in Bolivar, which is 70 miles south of Winterhurst Ice Arena. Prevost learned to skate on a frozen lake in one of Cleveland’s parks, and she now lives in Bedford, about 20 miles from the arena.
“Cleveland is still a hotspot for skating,” remarked Prevost. “The standard track dominated the ‘90s here, now 20 years later it is the adults’ turn to carry the torch.”
“The Ohio skating scene is a wonderful combination of great rinks and clubs, and the very welcoming Midwest environment you find at these facilities,” shared Horton. “I am especially thankful for the amazing support of adult skating that you see at these rinks and clubs.”
The Adult Championships is regularly referred to as an annual family reunion. Through the years, the “lifers” have become just that: a family.
“My fellow ‘lifers’ are an incredible group of athletes and just stellar human beings,” Horton shared. “Every one of them could share similar stories about training through injuries, life circumstances and health issues to keep going, not just for the streak, but for the love of skating. When I do retire, letting go of the streak will be hard, but even more hard will be not sharing the ice with these six outstanding people each year.”
“It’s the spirit of Adult Nationals that connects us,” Prevost explained. “It’s great to know we’ll all meet up every year in April to share a special moment together. It’s even better now, because we get to welcome and share the love with the Platinum Lifetime Competitor recipients. It’s a wonderful club we’re a part of.”
Each year is memorable in its own way. For Horton, much of the journey has been with a partner by his side.
“My most vivid memories are all about beautiful music, costumes, challenging dances, choreography and shared moments on the ice with my dance partners,” he said. “I tried to come up with one special memory, but I honestly need to give you nine: Sara, Lynda, Victoria, Fran, Julie, June, Julia, Donna and Michelle.”
For Prevost, a special moment does come to mind: finally earning her first medal in 2016 after a long wait.
“I was starting to be known as the Susan Lucci of the ‘lifers,’ as I was the one always showing up every year but not getting the Emmy,” said Prevost of Lucci who earned an Emmy after 19 years. “For me it took 21 years, but it was special, and I had the opportunity to share that moment with so many fellow skaters that knew the ongoing joke. After that moment, my focus changed. Skating to me is no longer about the Emmy, but searching for that perfect program.”
What keeps them coming back? For Horton, it’s “the amazing people I get to interact with each season.” For Prevost, it’s the “sense of community” at her local rink, where she takes pride in being a role model and mentor both on and off the ice.
Both Horton and Prevost have demonstrated longevity within the sport, and are motivated to continue skating for as long as possible.
“My secret to skating for a lifetime is honesty. I always try to be honest with myself each year about declining physical abilities, and also about my reasons for skating and competing one more season. It makes the next round of skating very enjoyable while I am challenging myself to move out of my comfort one.”
For Prevost, she’s done the math, and has set a lofty goal.
“Hitting my 50th consecutive Adult Nationals. I used to think it would be easy —that’s only age 75—now it’s age 76. That’s still doable!”
Prevost is competing in three events: adult gold women III, adult gold emotional performance III and adult gold lyrical pop/character/comedic III. Horton will be competing in centennial partnered pattern dance and adult gold partnered free dance. Visit the official competition website for results, livestream information and more.
