Hamill tells heartfelt tale of life on, off the ice

A SKATING LIFE: MY STORY, by Dorothy Hamill with Deborah Amelon, Hyperion, 238 pages, $14.95 (softbound)

In 1976 figure skater Dorothy Hamill became America's sweetheart after winning the gold medal at the Innsbruck Olympics. Overnight she went from virtual obscurity to role model, with girls copying her trademark hairdo for years to come.

In "A Skating Life: My Story," Hamill recounts the exhilarating process of getting to the Olympics and the letdown that followed.

Hamill began skating at the age of 8. Despite having to wear oversize skates stuffed with her brother's socks, she took to the ice like a natural, finding a freedom she had never before experienced.

Her family didn't have a lot of money, but they found a way to make skating possible. During her training, Hamill would move to numerous states and switch coaches a number of times.

All the scrimping and saving and hours of training paid off when she won national, world and Olympic titles. Following those wins, Hamill had little choice as to what she could do with skating — in those days there were few options for professional skaters: Ice Follies or Ice Capades and the occasional competition or TV special.

Through hard work, Hamill was able to make a career out of skating, but things did not go completely as planned. And the smiling face that the public came to know and love was often hiding personal heartache, including two failed marriages, bankruptcy and a falling out with her parents.

"A Skating Life" is fun for skating fans and novices alike. Hamill doesn't go into so much detail about skating as to confuse but offers just enough to paint a picture.

Unfortunately for fans, only a small portion is dedicated to Hamill's Olympic experience. To be fair, Hamill's life encompassed much more than one competition, but it will be a disappointment for those expecting more.

Hamill's treatment of both her struggles and corresponding achievements comes across as sincere and heartfelt. Her writing style is accessible, and "Skating Life" is something that can be read over time without fear of losing one's place.

Some of Hamill's transitions, however, are a little sloppy. At times she jumps from one subject to the next with no clear reason. The work would have benefited from tighter editing with more paragraph breaks and a few more, shorter chapters.

As a whole, though, "Skating Life's" strengths outweigh its weaknesses, making it an entertaining and informative read.

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E-mail: jharrison@desnews.com