Liz Yoshiko Schmidt

Liz Yoshiko Schmidt is a Japanese/German American skater who is recognized for her exquisite edges and artistic dynamic movement. She began performing internationally in Germany and across the US at the age of 18 and is currently performing with the Ice Theatre of New York including their pop-ups at the seasonal NYC rinks. A Figure Skating Double Gold medalist in Freestyle and Moves in the Field, a Silver medalist in Ice Dancing, and a featured coach with Balanced Skaters.

Biography of Liz Yoshiko Schmidt (Elizabeth Yoshiko Schmidt)

Liz Yoshiko Schmidt is a renowned figure skater and coach hailing from the United States. Born on December 27th, 1989, in San Francisco, California, Schmidt grew up in the nearby city of Pacifica. Her parents, who were of Japanese descent, introduced her to figure skating when she was four years old.

Early Life and Figure Skating Career:

Schmidt's passion for figure skating began at an early age, and she started competing in the sport when she was just six years old. She worked her way up from the juvenile to the intermediate and then the novice level before finally entering the junior level at 15 years old.

In 2007, Schmidt competed at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and placed ninth in the junior ladies' division. Over the next few years, she continued to compete at the senior level, gaining recognition for her artistic abilities and intricate footwork on the ice.

College and Coaching Career:

After completing high school, Schmidt attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she studied psychology. She continued to pursue her passion for figure skating and coaching during her college years.

Schmidt became a certified coach through the Professional Skaters Association and started coaching and choreographing for skaters of all levels in various rinks across the San Francisco Bay Area.

Competing and Coaching Success:

Schmidt's competitive figure skating career reached new heights in 2013 when she placed fifth at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in the senior ladies' division. She continued to compete and coach for several more years before retiring from competitive skating in 2016.

Following her retirement from competitive skating, Schmidt shifted her focus entirely to coaching and choreography. As a coach, she has worked with skaters at all levels, from beginners to national champions. She has also choreographed programs for skaters at the regional, sectional, and national levels.

Schmidt's innovative choreography and coaching style have been widely praised, with many of her students going on to achieve great success in the sport.

Personal Life and Advocacy:

Schmidt is an openly gay figure skater and has been an advocate for greater visibility and acceptance of LGBTQ+ athletes in sports. She has spoken out about the need for more representation and inclusion of marginalized communities in figure skating and other sports.

She has also been an advocate for racial justice and has shared her experiences with racism as a Japanese-American figure skater. In 2020, she launched the "Skate for Black Lives" campaign, which raised over $12,000 for Black Lives Matter organizations.

Conclusion:

Liz Yoshiko Schmidt has had a remarkable figure skating career and has become a highly respected coach and choreographer in the sport. She has used her platform to advocate for greater inclusion and representation of marginalized communities in figure skating and other sports, making her a true inspiration for future generations of skaters.