Women
USA
Paige Schwartzburg
USA- Date of birth20 Jul 1990
- Height163 CM
- ProfessionAthlete
- HometownSalt Lake City
- Place of birthOcala, FL
- Start skatingShe began inline skating at age seven before stopping at age 14. She took up speed skating in 2010 in Salt Lake City, UT, United States.
- Club N/A
- HobbiesPhotography, working with organisations to prevent animal cruelty. (teamusa.org, 11 Jun 2019)
- LanguagesEnglish
- CoachN/A
- Former CoachN/A
- General Interest
- Sport Specific Information
Being selected to represent the United States of America at a World Cup event for the first time. (Athlete, 16 Nov 2019)
"Give your best in what you do and you cannot be disappointed." (Athlete, 16 Nov 2019)
US basketball player LeBron James. (teamusa.org, 09 Nov 2016)
SECOND CHANCE
She competed in roller speed skating as a junior but her parents banned her from skating at age 14 after she had to have her stomach pumped in hospital as a result of drinking alcohol while at the national championships. She eventually dropped out of high school and spent time in jail as she dealt with drug and alcohol-related issues. “I was 18 and there was a warrant out for my arrest. I spent 40 days in jail and it straightened me out. I told myself I could never go back there again." After working for a while in a local gym, her mother and grandmother convinced her to travel to the Utah Olympic Oval to try to become a speed skater. "My mum and my grandma are my rocks. Everyone was 100% supportive. They wanted me to get out of Ocala [Florida] and get out of trouble. I came to the Oval in 2010 and got my first equipment from Tom di Nardo before I even got an apartment. Those experiences made me who I am. I came from jail and here I am on the national team. I feel myself getting stronger. I've travelled the world for competitions. I never thought I'd be here." (Healthy Living Magazine, 29 Jan 2016; teamusa.org, 11 Jun 2019)
TAKING UP SKATING
At age seven her brother suffered a severe brain injury and eventually had to relearn how to walk. He worked with Renee Hildebrand, a renowned inline and ice skating coach. One day while waiting in her office, Paige saw photos of speed skaters and thought she'd like to give it a try. "I loved it from the moment I put on my skates. I was a natural. I loved going fast. We'd crash and get road rash but it didn't matter because you just know when you love something." (teamusa.org, 11 Jun 2019)
She competed in roller speed skating as a junior but her parents banned her from skating at age 14 after she had to have her stomach pumped in hospital as a result of drinking alcohol while at the national championships. She eventually dropped out of high school and spent time in jail as she dealt with drug and alcohol-related issues. “I was 18 and there was a warrant out for my arrest. I spent 40 days in jail and it straightened me out. I told myself I could never go back there again." After working for a while in a local gym, her mother and grandmother convinced her to travel to the Utah Olympic Oval to try to become a speed skater. "My mum and my grandma are my rocks. Everyone was 100% supportive. They wanted me to get out of Ocala [Florida] and get out of trouble. I came to the Oval in 2010 and got my first equipment from Tom di Nardo before I even got an apartment. Those experiences made me who I am. I came from jail and here I am on the national team. I feel myself getting stronger. I've travelled the world for competitions. I never thought I'd be here." (Healthy Living Magazine, 29 Jan 2016; teamusa.org, 11 Jun 2019)
TAKING UP SKATING
At age seven her brother suffered a severe brain injury and eventually had to relearn how to walk. He worked with Renee Hildebrand, a renowned inline and ice skating coach. One day while waiting in her office, Paige saw photos of speed skaters and thought she'd like to give it a try. "I loved it from the moment I put on my skates. I was a natural. I loved going fast. We'd crash and get road rash but it didn't matter because you just know when you love something." (teamusa.org, 11 Jun 2019)
She competed in roller speed skating at junior national level. (Facebook page, 27 May 2016)
She was inspired to begin speed skating after watching the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. "I saw girls I used to compete against during my years as an inline skater who were now competing in the Olympics in speed skating on ice."