Celebrity News November 29, 2015
Olympic Skater Nancy Kerrigan Pays Tribute to Friend Lost in Colorado Springs Shooting
U.S. Olympic figure-skating legend Nancy Kerrigan is speaking out about the tragic loss of a childhood friend in Friday's Colorado Springs, Colorado, Planned Parenthood shooting.
As reported by Daily Mail, Kerrigan and slain officer Garrett Swasey were "inseparable" as kids. Kerrigan describes Swasey as "another brother," saying the cop — a former competitive skater — had been a major part of her support system in her youth. She remembered his encouragement from when she was competing:
"It was him yelling... and I could feel the energy and excitement of him rooting for me. It made me laugh. Instead of listening to music, I found that humor helped; it was good for me and it helped push me to do better."
Swasey with former skating partner Christine Fowler-Binder [Credit: Facebook @ChristineFowlerBinder]
Swasey was a hit on the ice, winning awards with partner Christine Fowler-Binder. Fowler-Binder remembered Swasey as "the most selfless person I knew." The pair moved to Colorado to continue competitive ice dancing, winning big in 1992. Swasey eventually left the sport, married a nurse, and fathered two children. He became a pastor at an Evangelical Christian church as well as a police officer.
Fowler-Binder and the late Officer Swasey at the height of their success as ice-skating partners [Credit: Facebook @ Christine Fowler-Binder]
President Obama said of Officer Swasey, "May God bless Officer Garrett Swasey and the Americans he tried to save — and may He grant the rest of us the courage to do the same thing."
