SOFIA FRANK and Edrian Celestino start their quest to qualify for the Beijing Winter Olympics in the Nebelhorn Trophy figure skating competition in Oberstdorf, Germany, on Thursday.
The 15-year-old Frank is accompanied by her Filipina mother, former beauty queen Preciosa Tongko-Frank, in Germany.
She is hoping to land in the top six of the 34-athlete field to qualify for the Beijing Winter Games set from February 4 to 20.
“Anything is possible. I trained hard and now it’s up to the Lord to bless us,” Frank told BusinessMirror on Wednesday. “If it’s His will, thy will be done.”
“It’s very inspiring. I hope I can inspire young girls to work hard and live their dream like I am right now,” added the Colorado Springs-based Frank, who said she is inspired and motivated by Pasadena Figure Skating Club teammate Mirai Nagasu, a former Olympian.
“I look up to Mirai Nagasu. We belong to the same club. She went to the last Olympics and was the first American to land a three axel,” she said. “I want to follow her footsteps,” she added.
Frank and Celestino will be vying in the short and free skate programs.
Celestino, on the other hand, needs to be in the top seven against 32 competitors.
Philippine Skating Union President Nikki Cheng said it is the last qualifying tournament for the two Filipinos.
“It’s now or never. I pray that they both qualify,” Cheng said.