Name: Anthony Ponomarenko
Where do you live? I live and train in Novi, Michigan
What type of athlete are you? I am an ice dancer for Team USA
Do you have a day job or are you a professional athlete? I am a student at Novi High School as well as an athlete.
How long have you been participating in this sport? I’ve been figure skating for 13 years.
Who are your biggest influences? Who do you admire most? My biggest influences are definitely my parents. They were ice dancers as well and inspire me everyday to become a great athlete. I also admire Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir. They are the current Olympic Champions and brought a whole new perspective to ice dance.
What is your training regimen? I train Monday through Friday. I am on the ice for about 4 hours a day and it follows with an hour of off ice conditioning or dance.
How do you structure your days? I attend school in the morning. After three hours of school I rush to the rink for a 2 hour ice session. I have a small break and have another 2 hour session. After ice, i make my way to our ballet/conditioning room to work for an hour. My days are free after that and I spend some time doing homework and hanging with friends.
Do you find your diet to be a crucial part of your lifestyle? If so, what diet tips would you recommend to your followers? I consider my diet a huge part of my training. I constantly think about what I put into my body and make sure my body is fueled correctly so I can always give my 100%. Some diet tips I would recommend to my followers is to always limit your portions and never over eat. It is better to eat more often and smaller portions than one huge meal all at once.
How do you care for your body and health aside from your sport? Being an athlete is a full time job. I always have to make sure what I am doing outside of the rink will benefit me for my sport. I get the weekends off and I take that time to rest and recover. I visit physical therapists, get sports massages, and visit hot tubs. After a day of training, i stretch and roll out my muscles.
What is your impression of the Silipos Oval Lace Bite? How did it add value to you? What did you like about it? I really like the product. It is made from a very soft comfortable material and provides a convenient space between the tongue of my boot and ankle. I value that greatly because lace bite/tendinitis is a frequent problem for most ice skaters and this product can help solve that.
Would you recommend Silipos products to other athletes? I would definitely recommend this product. Tendinitis/lace bite has impacted the skating world so much and I have seen many talented, young athletes that had to take time off or call it quits. Any product that can help prevent that should be worn by every skater.
What is something that your followers do not know about you, that you find to be very important to your personal lifestyle? I have an obsession with polo style shirts. You will almost always see me wearing them.
What keeps you motivated when you are faced with challenges? I always keep my eyes on the prize so when I am faced with challenges I look at the future and see how much this challenge can help me in the long run.
What is one piece of advice you would give to an aspiring athlete? Sportsmanship is a big component in any sport. Always show respect for your opponents and competitors.
You can continue to follow Anthony’s active journey through life on his social media channels below!
Instagram: Pom_pom9
Facebook: carreiraponomarenko
