By Sarah Kinney
Staff Writer

This past weekend, Kiri Baga, a first-year student at Simmons performed at the 102nd Ice Chips Show of Champions at the Agganis Arena at Boston University.

She shared the ice with fellow Skating Club of Boston members, such as Marissa Castelli and Simon Shnapir, 2014 Olympic Bronze medalists, and Ross Miner, 2013 Men’s Silver Medalist.

“It was an honor to be involved,” said Baga.

The theme of the show was “The Hero’s Journey.” Baga said she related the theme to perseverance and the ups and downs associated with being an athlete. However, she said the show also paid tribute to the two firefighters who recently perished in the Back Bay fire saying it “spoke to real heroism.”

Baga is an internationally known skater, who recently competed at the senior level in the U.S. Figure Skater Championships, which is where the Olympic skaters were selected.

“Getting to see the Olympic team chosen,” Baga said, “it was great.”

She began skating outside when she was two years old. When she was four years old, she began formal lessons because her older sister was going to lessons.

She began placing at the intermediate level during the 2006-2007 season. She earned the bronze the UGL Regionals and placed eighth at the U.S. Junior Championships.

Her record took off in 2008-2008 when she place first at the Midwest Sectionals and the U.S. Championship as a novice. She also placed second in the UGL regionals.

The following year she participated internationally as a junior skater. She received gold in Turkey and Germany. She placed fourth at the U.S. Championships and seventh in the international Junior Finals and Worlds.

Travelling across the world has been a highlight of her career, said Baga. She credits for opening her eyes to the world and allowing her to meet really successful people.

She started competing at the senior level when she was 15 years old.

Most recently, she place second at the Cup of Nice in October 2013 and fourteenth at the U.S. Championships.

In 2013 in addition to skating on her own, she being skating paired with Taylor Toth.

Baga said switching to pairs was difficult because she had to worry about another person. She was used to individual sports (she was also a gymnast until eight years old). Despite the challenges, she said it was fun to learn the new style as paired skating involves throws and lifts. Baga and Toth placed eighth at the 2012-2013 U.S. Championships.

Despite the fame (and her own Wikipedia page), Baga does not feel much pressure to present herself a certain way. She says she tries to keep her skating-self separate from her personal life.

She admits she does get a bit of stage fright.

“I always get nervous,” Baga said. “because I always want to do well.”

She said telling herself that she can only do her best helps keep her grounded.

A love of skating and a personal joy at her success motivates her.

Baga needs that motivation to balance her coursework as a neuroscience major and continuing to practice skating (up to four hours a day when she was preparing for the national championships).

She said that it is difficult to balance and that both school and skating offer her lots of opportunities, but she cannot pursue them all.

School is important to Baga, so while many skaters take time off, she is doing both. She said she is always happier when she has multiple things on her plate.

In the future, she hopes to continue to succeed in her studies and her sport.