Olympic gold medalist and Royal Oak native Meryl Davis is coming to Campus Martius on Jan. 27 to teach 100 young girls the art of figure skating.
The workshop, sponsored by Figure Skating in Detroit and the Downtown Detroit Partnership, is free of charge and those without skates will be provided with a pair.
Davis is the most decorated American ice dancer in history, along with partner and fellow Royal Oak native Charlie White, but she says she won't compete in the 2018 Winter Olympics. Instead, she will continue to skate as a sort of side hustle.
“I’m thrilled to be a part of this opportunity for Detroit girls,” Davis said in a press release. “Figure skating has been such a beautiful part of my life and I’m excited for these young ladies to embark on their own adventures on the ice.”
The workshop is part of DDP's continued effort to add programing to attract locals to The Rink at Campus Martius Park. A broomball league also plays on the ice and six local Meijer locations are currently distributing free passes for open skating.
“The DDP is excited to offer rink access to FSD free of charge to give the young girls a chance to experience the excitement of skating in the heart of a bustling downtown Detroit,” the release stated.
Parents are required to stay for the duration of the workshop, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Girls interested in joining the workshop can register online. The rink will reopen to the public after the workshop and the celebration of Winter Blast will resume.
