Los Angeles Times, Sports, Helene Elliott

Maria Garcia of Carson, a member of the U.S. short-track speedskating team at the Turin Olympics and part of the successful program of the Southern California Speed Skating Assn., missed a chance to qualify for the Vancouver Games when she fell hard during the Olympic trials earlier this month in Marquette, Mich.

But that didn't end Garcia's Olympic hopes. She switched to long-track skating even though she had no experience with that discipline and, remarkably, qualified to compete in the 500-meter event at an Olympic qualifying event in late October in Milwaukee. She might also try to get a qualifying time in the 1,000.

"Why not!? My love of sport is through the journey," she said of making the switch. "Life will always continue on. Qualifying for the long-track Olympic trials is just as possible as it is impossible. I may come nowhere close, but it will be pure joy every step of the way. That's what sports and life should be about, always looking and rising to your next challenge."

Melissa and Erica spoke to Maria Cruz Garcia — the Olympic Short Track speedskater who suffered an injury on Saturday, leaving many to speculate that she may not compete in the Vancouver games. She told us a different story ...

 Listen to the podcast here!

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US Speed Skating

Salt Lake City, UT. The U.S. National Short Track Speedskaters travel to Marquette, Michigan this week to participate in the U.S. Short Track Championships/Olympic Trials to be held on Sept. 8-12, 2009.

Along with members of the national training program, U.S. speedskater Maria Cruz Garcia- who chooses to reside outside of the national training center- also qualified to participate in the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. (read more)

Launched in February 2009, The Concierge Questionnaire is a hip, informative and fun travel magazine, dedicated to providing “valuable answers from those who know.”

The Concierge Questionnaire’s new “Headed to Vancouver” section highlights Olympians to get insight from some of the best athletes in the world!  Featured athletes include Maria Cruz Garcia, Ashley Wagner and Michelle Roark, with more to come! (read more)

Maria Cruz Garcia, Erin Hamlin, Chellsie Memmel, Shannon Miller, Michelle Roark, Angela Ruggiero, and Ashley Wagner have joined the roster of stars at Great Friends Greetings!

Great Friends Greetings is a totally unique gift idea.  Great Friends Greetings sells custom printed premium quality greeting cards that make great gifts and feature well-known sports, music, TV and movie stars.

Great Friends Greetings’ unique greeting card, containing a message designed and personalized by the customer, appears to the recipient to come directly from the athlete.  They have a spectacular photo printed in front and a customer composed message inside. The cards are signed with the celebrity’s actual signature image. (read more)