COLUMBUS, Ohio — The U.S. Figure Skating Championships is underway this week, and for the very first time, Ohio’s capital city is hosting it. 

What You Need To Know

• Columbus is hosting the 2024 U.S. Figure Skating Championships for the first time in the sport's history


• The Championship is inspiring young skaters, like 9-year-old Ella Chung


• Ella has been figure skating since she was 3

It’s bringing in the best skaters from across the country, inspiring young dreamers like 9-year-old Ella Chung.

“I want to show people how I can inspire them,” said Ella.

Ella has been figure skating since she was 3. She took it up after her older sister, competing often and training a lot.

It’s something her mom Eva can attest to.

“She does one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon after school,” Eva said. “About 10 hours a week.”

It’s a lot of work for a young person, but Ella doesn’t seem to mind.

“I just like landing my jumps, and it just feels like a good relief,” she said. “There is this one time I went to Ann Arbor, so that was probably my favorite because I got first. I was like happy.”  

While training, Ella often thinks of the possibilities.

“I don’t know if I could get into the Olympics, but just maybe the nationals,” she said.

And getting the chance to see the US Figure Skating Championships in person in her hometown inspires her.  

“When I watch people doing the nationals, I feel like it makes me want to do it even more because that’s how people would think of me when I’m doing it,” she said.

It sounds like she’ll go far and may someday inspire others too, and if you ask Ella’s mom, she already is.

“This place is her world,” Eva said. “She knows what she wants. If she wants it, she makes an effort.”