Hi, my name is Mackenzie Kazandjian, I’m 14 years old, I started skating when I was 4 and a half years old, my dream is to secure a spot on Team USA and go to the Olympics.
A year and a half ago my father abandoned me and my family. Now my mom and grandparents are struggling to help me pursue my dreams of being an Olympian.
When I was in preschool they gave me a blue slip of paper, I got home and asked my mom what it said, she told me it was a learn to skate advertisement, I wanted to go ice skating so bad that my mom finally gave in and took me. The first time on the ice, I didn’t use an ice walker or hold onto the boards, I just went and did my own thing. Right then and there, I fell in love with ice skating and I knew I would be skating for the rest of my life.
I then started looking on YouTube for skating videos, and I started teaching myself.
I started lessons when I was 5, I fell more and more in love with it. And then competitions came into the picture from then on things kept on improving. I take time to help others learn to skate, I love being home-schooled so I have more opportunity to practice. Since my only dream is to go to the Olympics I don’t do anything else but skate and homework.
In 2014, I placed 3rd in the 2014 Northwest Pacific Regional Championships and moved on to the 2014 Pacific Coast Sectionals where I placed 7th. Then in January I broke my ankle through the growth plate. As soon as the cast was off I was back on the ice. I couldn’t let a broken ankle stop my dreams. I am mastering all of my jumps and training harder than ever.
I’m reaching out to the public for a sponsor but until then I’m asking for you to help me stay skating and continue on my journey.