By Rick Pedone
Staff Writer

An overseas trip for the 55th World Artistic Roller Skating Championships is nothing unusual for Kissimmee’s Jessica Feuerstein.

The 18-year-old University of Florida junior leaves in two weeks for Portimao, Portugal, where for the fourth consecutive year she will compete for the Junior World Class Figures championship when the competition begins Nov. 22.

Feuerstein’s result has improved incrementally over the past three years after placing fourth at Australia in 2007; third in Taiwan in 2008 and, last year, second in Germany.

A fundraiser for Feuerstein and seven other U.S. skaters who qualified for the world championships is scheduled Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m. at Skate Reflections, 1111 Dyer Blvd., in Kissimmee. Several skaters will perform exhibitions.

Feuerstein graduated with honors from Osceola High earlier this year as a dual enrollment student and she is studying to be a pharmacist at UF. Between her studies and training, she rarely has a free moment.

“I decided to take online classes only this semester and that allowed me the flexibility of flying to Virginia and spending two weeks every month to skate and train with my coach, Petra Dayney,” Feuerstein said. “All I do is school and skate­ – my choice to go after my dream. After being a runner-up last year, I am very focused and working hard with the goal of winning the title.”

Feuerstein won her eighth U.S. Nationals Figures Championship last summer, adding to a collection of about two dozen national championships in various figures, dancing and pairs events over her 12-year career.

Feuerstein took up the sport as an elementary school student at Skate Reflections and was trained by former World Champion Ron Jellse before his death three years ago.

Feuerstein’s mother, Daniella Feuerstein, said that despite the significant financial sacrifices the family has made so Jessica can train, she would do it all again.

“She graduated from high school in the top 5 percent of her class, while also getting her two-year AA degree from Valencia Community College. At the same time, she has been training and very much focused on her skating,” Daniella Feuerstein said.

“It has been difficult at times, but you don’t want to deny your child this opportunity.”

Jessica Feuerstein said the support of her parents has been “unwavering,” and that she hopes to reward their sacrifices with a world title later this month.

“The competition is huge and I realize that with hard work I may have the opportunity to be so lucky as to earn a gold medal,” she said.

“It is scary, exciting and humbling all at the same time.”