LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating Alex and Danielle Gamelin upon the
occasion of capturing a Gold Medal in Ice Dancing at the 2009 United
States Junior Figure Skating Championships

WHEREAS, Excellence and success in competitive sports can be achieved
only through strenuous practice, team play and team spirit, nurtured by
dedicated coaching and strategic planning; and
WHEREAS, Athletic competition enhances the moral and physical develop-
ment of the young people of this State, preparing them for the future by
instilling in them the value of teamwork, encouraging a standard of
healthy living, imparting a desire for success and developing a sense of
fair play and competition; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
tribute to those young people within the State of New York who have
inspired and brought pride to their school and community by achieving
outstanding success in athletic competition; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to congratu-
late Alex and Danielle Gamelin upon the occasion of capturing a Gold
Medal in Ice Dancing at the 2009 United States Junior Figure Skating
Championships in Lake Placid, New York; and
WHEREAS, Born in Boston, Alex and Danielle Gamelin have always wanted
to be ice dancers; they saw their first competition on television when
they were three and announced they wanted to do the same; and
WHEREAS, The family moved to North Merrick in 1998, to be nearer to
family members on Long Island and Alex and Danielle Gamelin skated for
the first time at the age of seven during a birthday party at the
Newbridge Arena in Bellmore; and
WHEREAS, Alex and Danielle Gamelin started taking basic skating
lessons in 2000 and teamed up for the first time in 2003; representing
the Skating Club of New York, they are qualified members of the United
States Figure Skating Association and have won bronze, silver and other
gold medals in regional contests since beginning competition in the
2006-07 season; and
WHEREAS, Alex and Danielle Gamelin currently practice 28 hours a week,
as well as taking ballet and ballroom dance lessons at a Greenvale
studio, and weight training and high-intensity calisthenics at a Bell-
more gym; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Alex and Danielle Gamelin travel twice a week to
Monmouth Junction, New Jersey, where Russian Olympic Gold medalist Evge-
ny Platov, an inspiration since they first saw him ice dancing on tele-
vision in 1996, is one of their trainers and choreographs their "free
dance" routines; and
WHEREAS, After attending local public schools through eighth grade,
Alex and Danielle Gamelin are now enrolled in the flexible programs of
Laurel Springs School, a private K12 distance-learning program based in
Ojai, California, where they are taking honors classes in world history,
literature and foreign language, among other subjects; and
WHEREAS, Poised eagerly with enthusiasm and determined purpose, Alex
and Danielle Gamelin now stand honorably, with just pride in their
accomplishments and in eager anticipation of future challenges, under-
standing and appreciating the caring counsel and support provided by
their coaches, family and friends; and
WHEREAS, With Alex and Danielle Gamelin throughout have been their
parents, Lee and Donna Gamelin, both of whom feel privileged to be a
part of their lives and rejoice in their many achievements; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when young
people of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate Alex and Danielle Gamelin upon the occasion of capturing a
Gold Medal in Ice Dancing at the 2009 United States Junior Figure Skat-
ing Championships, and to extend to them its best wishes for a future of
purposeful success and well-being, fully confident of their response to
a promising future and appreciative of the model they represent for all
aspiring young people of the Empire State; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Alex and Danielle Gamelin.