A 17-year-old girl from Newburgh began her quest for Olympic gold in figure skating Friday, flying to Vancouver to join the Russian team.

Ksenia Makarova started skating at the age of eight shortly after arriving in the U.S. from Russia. She says her passion for the sport comes from her parents, who participated in the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games.

Makarova says she has been training six days a week to make it to the Olympics.

Makarova is also an honor student at Newburgh Free Academy. She hopes to study forensic science in college.

Makarova is set to compete Feb. 23 and Feb. 25.