It seems that some talents really do run in the family.
In 1992, America collectively stood up and cheered when skater Kristi Yamaguchi won the gold medal for Team U.S.A. at the Winter Olympic Games in Albertville, France. Kristi’s win marked the first time that an American woman had won the gold medal in skating since Dorothy Hamill earned the honor in 1976.
YouTube
Kristi’s elegant performance highlighted a stunning talent that earned her several World and U.S. championship titles. She was even inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 2005.
Instagram
While Kristi was in Albertville back in 1992, she met and fell in love with Bret Hedican, a professional hockey player who played for Team U.S.A. The two Olympians have been together ever since, and they have two daughters. Keara Kiyomi is 14 and Emma Yoshiko is 12.
Instagram
If you have any doubt that the young girls got their mom and dad’s top-notch skating skills, the below video will immediately dispel it.
A video of Kristi skating with her youngest daughter proves that feeling at home on the ice definitely runs in the family! Emma is following in her mom’s footsteps, and naturally, she’s already amazing.
YouTube
Emma and Kristi are skating to “Let It Go” from “Frozen,” and Mom is definitely following her daughter’s lead. Kristi seems to be taking things at a leisurely pace on the ice, mirroring Emma as they do a series of complicated jumps and graceful, swan-like moves.
YouTube
Emma makes this routine look easy… and anyone who’s ever strapped on a pair of ice skates can tell you, it is not.
YouTube
Emma’s well on her way to competing! Whether or not she’ll ever make it as far as the Olympics remains to be seen, but we definitely don’t doubt that she’s capable of achieving the same sort of greatness that her mom did all those years ago.
Watch Emma in action below, and be sure to share this video with a friend!
Want to be happier in just 5 minutes a day? Sign up for Morning Smile and join over 455,000+ people who start each day with good news.