Meet Team USA Figure Skater Mariah Bell

From Cosmopolitan

Mariah Bell had an impressive 2016-17 skating season, which turned out to be her big-stakes breakout on the international scene, no less. The 21-year-old skater, a Tulsa, Oklahoma, native, ranked second at two of her ISU Challenger Series assignments, earning silver at the 2016 CS U.S. International Classic. She was then invited to the 2016 Skate America to replace the injured Angela Wang, earning silver behind Ashley Wagner.

But her breakout moment was when she won the bronze medal at the U.S. Championships in January 2017, earning her a spot on the Four Continents and World teams. Although she ended the season with a disappointing 12th place at the 2017 World Championships, the rising star continues to prepare for what she hopes will be her Olympic debut at PyeongChang, South Korea. Read on for everything you need to know about Mariah.

1. Mariah began skating at 3 years old thanks to her older sister, Morgan. Morgan, 26, began skating at 6 years old and started competing at 8. "Mariah was a rink rat," Morgan told the Omaha World-Herald. “She was always there [to watch me], so mom put her in group lessons at 3.” Mariah explained to U.S. Figure Skating: "My mom said it was easier to put me in skates than chase me around."