Bel Air Olympic Skater Helps Break Ice in Baltimore

A special guest from Bel Air made an appearance Friday in downtown Baltimore for the grand opening of the city’s new ice rink.

Kimmie Meissner, the Olympic figure skater who lives in Bel Air and frequents Abingdon’s Ice World, was among those celebrating Baltimore City’s newest attraction, located near the Inner Harbor.

“I always love coming down to the city and now to have this here, it’s like bringing two things I love together,” Meissner said in an interview with WBAL TV.

Her first skating show took place at the city’s previous rink at Rash Field, which closed in 2002, according to The Baltimore Sun.

As her career expanded, Meissner went on to place sixth at the Olympics in 2006 and was the World Championship winner that year. In 2007 she received the U.S. national title in figure skating before injuries cut her competitive skating career short.

On Friday, Meissner was pictured skating around Pratt Street with Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

Rawlings-Blake told WBAL that the venue reminded her of Rockefeller Center because the rink was “in the middle of everything.”

The new ice rink is the result of a collaboration between Baltimore City and the Waterfront Partnership. The rink is located at McKeldin Plaza, 101 Pratt Street, in Baltimore. Skating costs $7 for children and $9 for adults. Skate rentals are $3. The rink will welcome skaters for the season until Jan. 19, 2015. Get hours and more details here.

The Budweiser Clydesdales will make the rounds during a parade from Rash Field to the Inner Harbor to Harborplace during the rink’s grand opening weekend from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22.

Screenshot of Kimmie Meissner from WBAL/YouTube.

Related: Bel Air Olympic Figure Skater Lands in Sochi with NBC