{"id":14601,"date":"2018-01-21T23:16:00","date_gmt":"2018-01-21T23:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/associatednews.us\/content\/2018\/01\/21\/from-carnegie-hall-to-pyeongchang-speedskater-heads-to-his-first-olympic-games\/"},"modified":"2018-01-21T23:16:00","modified_gmt":"2018-01-21T23:16:00","slug":"from-carnegie-hall-to-pyeongchang-speedskater-heads-to-his-first-olympic-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/associatednews.us\/content\/from-carnegie-hall-to-pyeongchang-speedskater-heads-to-his-first-olympic-games\/","title":{"rendered":"From Carnegie Hall To Pyeongchang, Speedskater Heads To His First Olympic Games"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Michel Martin<\/a><\/span> <\/p>\n

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\n Kimani Griffin celebrates after placing third the Men’s 500-meter event during the Long Track Speed Skating Olympic Trials at the Pettit National Ice Center, on Jan. 5 in Milwaukee, Wisc.<\/p>\n

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Stacy Revere\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Stacy Revere\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

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In just a few weeks, speedskater Kimani Griffin, 27, will join a cast of Olympic first-timers in Pyeongchang. But he’s no stranger to the bright lights and big stage \u2014 or to public broadcasting.<\/p>\n

At age 17, the Winston-Salem, N.C., native was featured on<\/a> the PBS program, From the Top,<\/em> when he performed classical guitar at Carnegie Hall. He stepped away from playing music professionally after accepting a full scholarship to college in Georgia. But setting aside his other passion \u2014 in-line skating \u2014 wasn’t as easy.<\/p>\n

“I really enjoyed my time (at Columbus State University), but I really missed skating,” Griffin says. “I really missed the world of working out and that competitive nature.” He thought, “Maybe I’ll move to Salt Lake and see if I can go down this path.”<\/p>\n

Eight years after taking that leap, he’s back in his element. Earlier this month, Griffin’s third-place finish<\/a> in the 500-meter race landed him a spot on the eight-man U.S. speedskating team.<\/p>\n

From his Brookfield, Wisc., training ground, Kimani Griffin spoke with NPR’s Michelle Martin about his journey back to the joy of competitive performance \u2014 and how Gucci Mane fits into his routine.<\/p>\n