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Gold Medal Dreams #1
On the Edge
Book One in an exciting Olympic trilogy!
Tori is skating better than ever. But she feels terrible. She's always tired, and skating seems to completely drain her. One day she even faints on the ice! Tori knows she should tell her mother she hasn't been feeling well. But the national competition is only three weeks away--it's there that the members of the U.S. Olympic team will be decided. Tori doesn't want anything to keep her from competing.
Tori's friends think she's folding under the pressure. But Tori knows it's more serious than that. Does she have the courage to face the truth?
Tori is skating better than ever. But she feels terrible. She's always tired, and skating seems to completely drain her. One day she even faints on the ice! Tori knows she should tell her mother she hasn't been feeling well. But the national competition is only three weeks away--it's there that the members of the U.S. Olympic team will be decided. Tori doesn't want anything to keep her from competing.
Tori's friends think she's folding under the pressure. But Tori knows it's more serious than that. Does she have the courage to face the truth?
144 pages, Paperback
First published November 10, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 30, 2026
Melissa Lowell “On the Edge” is the first book in the Gold Medal Dreams Silver Blades fiction book miniseries. The book was published by Batam Books in 1997. The young Tori Carsen is a member of the Seneca Hills, Pennsylvania Silver Blades Skating Club. She joined the Silver Blades when she was eight years old. Roger Arnold is her stepfather, and her mother Corrine Carsen is a very accomplished fashion clothing designer. At the age of 15 Tori was involved in skating activities to qualify her to become a member of the U. S. Skating Olympics National team. She learned and performed the Triple Axel, a sallow, the Serpentine, and the Triple Lutz. Her spirals and Mohawk moves were laced with amazing jumps and crossovers.
Natalia Cherkas a 14-year-old Russian family immigrant lived with Tori’s family and trained with the Silver Blades. Natalia’s father is a Washington D.C. diplomat. Her mother died before Natalia arrived in the United States. Also living in Tori’s home is her 16-year-old stepsister Veronica. While shopping with her family’s new mates Tori’s left leg collapsed. Tori practiced skating to be a part of the U.S. Nationals Olympic female team. Her intense practice was affecting her ability to balance while walking. The next day at her skating practice session she could not perform many of her jumps and routines. Her coach was alarmed about her failures. Daniel (Dan)Trapp is a very supportive coach while her other coach Kathy Bart was very demanding. Tori was convinced her poor performance during the practice session was caused by her being “too stressed.” The next day her stress level had dropped and during her skating practice session according to Coach Daniel she skated like a champion. However, the very next day she fainted during practice and assistant coach Kathy Bart decided to have Tori’s mother come to the practice arena and take her daughter to see Doctor Wycliffe for an emergency diagnosis. The overall first diagnosis did not reveal ailments or body damage. Arrangements were then made for Tori to see muscle specialist Dr. Edith Barnard and for her to have blood tests. She was told by Dr. Wycliffe that she could continue her practice skating sessions. After visiting with the muscle specialist, she had several X-rays taken. When Doctor Wycliffe’s test results were available, the doctor met with Tori, stepsister Veronica, Natalia, and Mother Mrs. Corrine Carsen. The doctor told them the test results determined that Tori has a very rare muscular dystrophy disease. Doctor Wycliffe then said that Tori can still compete in the U.S. Olympics National trials; but the disease may impact her success to make it to the Olympics. Arrangements were then made for Tori to travel to the Nationals Olympic U.S. competition in Philadelphia, and her coaches decided to contact a medical muscle specialist (Dr. Mitchell) in Philadelphia. The top three U.S. Nationals skaters will go to the International Olympics. When her decision to go to Philadelphia was made the Gold Metal part #1 Silver Blades “On the Edge” book ends. The next book in the three-book series is titled “Now or Never.” (P)
Natalia Cherkas a 14-year-old Russian family immigrant lived with Tori’s family and trained with the Silver Blades. Natalia’s father is a Washington D.C. diplomat. Her mother died before Natalia arrived in the United States. Also living in Tori’s home is her 16-year-old stepsister Veronica. While shopping with her family’s new mates Tori’s left leg collapsed. Tori practiced skating to be a part of the U.S. Nationals Olympic female team. Her intense practice was affecting her ability to balance while walking. The next day at her skating practice session she could not perform many of her jumps and routines. Her coach was alarmed about her failures. Daniel (Dan)Trapp is a very supportive coach while her other coach Kathy Bart was very demanding. Tori was convinced her poor performance during the practice session was caused by her being “too stressed.” The next day her stress level had dropped and during her skating practice session according to Coach Daniel she skated like a champion. However, the very next day she fainted during practice and assistant coach Kathy Bart decided to have Tori’s mother come to the practice arena and take her daughter to see Doctor Wycliffe for an emergency diagnosis. The overall first diagnosis did not reveal ailments or body damage. Arrangements were then made for Tori to see muscle specialist Dr. Edith Barnard and for her to have blood tests. She was told by Dr. Wycliffe that she could continue her practice skating sessions. After visiting with the muscle specialist, she had several X-rays taken. When Doctor Wycliffe’s test results were available, the doctor met with Tori, stepsister Veronica, Natalia, and Mother Mrs. Corrine Carsen. The doctor told them the test results determined that Tori has a very rare muscular dystrophy disease. Doctor Wycliffe then said that Tori can still compete in the U.S. Olympics National trials; but the disease may impact her success to make it to the Olympics. Arrangements were then made for Tori to travel to the Nationals Olympic U.S. competition in Philadelphia, and her coaches decided to contact a medical muscle specialist (Dr. Mitchell) in Philadelphia. The top three U.S. Nationals skaters will go to the International Olympics. When her decision to go to Philadelphia was made the Gold Metal part #1 Silver Blades “On the Edge” book ends. The next book in the three-book series is titled “Now or Never.” (P)
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September 18, 2008This book truely touched my heart me myself being a figure skater also..
It showed me don't give up on your dreams..
It showed me don't give up on your dreams..
cataloged
January 22, 2016ice skating
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March 13, 2018I read this series 20 years ago. To this day, when I hear the term , I think of this series.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews