Northbrook Mom Remembers Olympian Daughter's Start In Glenview

GLENVIEW, IL — The mom of a local Olympian is getting ready to head to South Korea for the trip of a lifetime. Debbie Gehring, of Northbrook, will be watching her youngest daughter, Lana, compete in her second Olympics next month in Pyeongchang.

“It’s a lot of fun and a total adrenaline rush," Gehring laughed. "I think I get more worn out after these meets, just watching them.”

Lana Gehring, 27, qualified to skate in the 500, 1,000 and 1,500 meter short track races last month at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Utah. Lana has a bronze medal from her appearance at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, but she retired for a time after missing out in 2014.

“Lana hasn’t competed internationally in like three years. So, just making the team, to me, that was the big thing. Anything else is icing on the cake. We’ll see how it goes. The Koreans have the hometown advantage,” she said.

Growing up in Glenview, Lana Gehring's first steps on the ice were at the Glenview Ice Center, where her older sister was already skating, according to her mom.

Debbie explained says she signed up her then four-year-old daughter for a twice-weekly figure skating class to get some exercise over the winter months.

Lana kept figure skating in Glenview for four years and participated in all the local ice shows.

"She was a flower one year,” Debbie recalls with a smile.

Debbie said skating just seemed to come easily to her daughter, who was always well-coordinated and balanced.

Plus, having a figure skating background helped Lana excel quickly with power skating maneuvers and taught her skating basics like crossovers from her time at the Glenview Ice Center.

“She just really liked going fast,” said Gehring.

At age 15, Lana moved to Salt Lake City to pursue her speed skating career. In Utah, she lived in her own apartment and would walk to and from school, the ice rink and the store.

On the ice, her helmet what has become Lana’s signature look. Her hair is shaved on one side, revealing a tattoo of a crown with her initials. She got the tattoo in 2012, he mom said.

“2012 was a fantastic year for Lana. She took home several gold medals at the World Cups and a bronze medal at World Championships. So the tattoo symbolizes her accomplishments,” she said.

“I’m very proud of her,” Debbie said.

Read More: Glenview Skater First To Make Olympic Short Track Team

Top photo: Lana Gehring at the U.S. Olympic short track speedskating trials Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Kearns, Utah. | AP Photo | Rick Bowmer