A party for the skater Kimi Goetz will be held at Flemington Furs in Flemington on March 31, 2016.
FLEMINGTON -- U.S. speed skater Kimi Goetz will be visiting back home in Hunterdon County soon, and a fundraising reception is planned to welcome her back.
The party will be Thursday, March 31, starting at 6 p.m. at Flemington Furs.
Goetz, 21, a borough native, recently competed in the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Seoul, finishing 29th overall.
Before she went, she was looking forward to the stiff competition. "My goal is just to continue improving and gaining experience," Goetz said by email. "This will be my second World Championships and they are incredible to race in because I get to race the best of the best."
Goetz has been living in Salt Lake City since June 2012, training and also holding down a job working for a financing company. Her work is flexible so she can train Mondays through Thursdays and race.
The skater is hoping to compete in the 2018 Olympics in South Korea. She barely missed a berth on the U.S. team that went to the 2014 Olympics in Russia, but she's seen a lot of the world, competing in World Cups in Toronto, Montreal, Japan and China, and in international competition in Moscow and most recently South Korea.
Although she is working full-time and training full-time, Goetz still needs financial support. Last year Mayor Phil Greiner and his wife, Joan, held a fundraising reception for Goetz and raised $5,000 at the event, along with another $2,000 throughout the year.
Joan Greiner said she's hoping this year's reception is equally successful. "This is not an inexpensive pursuit," Greiner said. "And the U.S. doesn't financially support its athletes at this stage of the game."
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Suggested contributions are $50 a person or $75 a couple, but the reception will be open to anyone. "We're trying to give Kimi moral support, because it does help her," Greiner said.
Any money donated goes solely to Goetz, Greiner said. "It goes to skates, blades, boots, rink fees, and travel expenses," she said.
At last year's reception Goetz mingled with well-wishers, and people attending this year's reception can expect the same, Greiner said.
Anyone wishing to donate to Goetz' support can make a check out to K. Goetz Olympic Fund/Flemington Borough, and mail it to She Skates Like the Wind, C/O J. Greiner, 7 West Road, Flemington, NJ 08822. For more information, people can email Joan Greiner at joanig@comcast.net.
Sallie Graziano may be reached at sgraziano@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SallieGraziano. Find The Hunterdon County Democrat on Facebook.