Samuelson and Bates are the 2009 U.S. silver medalists, 2010 U.S. bronze medalists and 2008 World Junior champions ... Won the silver medal at the 2007 and 2008 Junior Grand Prix finals ... Captured U.S. titles at the intermediate (2002), novice (2005) and junior (2007) levels ... Placed 11th at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games ... Samuelson fell at the 2007 World Junior Championships and was stepped on by Bates, severing the tendon in her middle finger and forcing the team to withdraw from the competition.

Samuelson began skating at age 5 because she saw a girl skating while she was on vacation in Switzerland and wanted to try it, too ... Participated in the U.S. Figure Skating Basic Skills Program ... Previously coached by Gary Clark (1998-2001) ... Has two younger sisters, Katie (17) and Ashley (12) ... Received numerous academic honors in high school, including Honor Roll (2004-08), Presidential Award for Educational Excellence (2006-08), Phi Beta Kappa (2008) and summa cum laude (2008) ... State finalist for Miss Teen Michigan ... In her sophomore year at the University of Michigan ... Supports the American Cancer Society through Relay for Life ... Favorite city to which she's traveled for skating is Oberstdorf, Germany, because "it is a gorgeous town situated in the middle of the mountains in Germany, it is so quaint and 'picture perfect,' and it holds many good memories for me" ... Something that sets her apart from others is "I'm a very clumsy person - I'm constantly bumping into table corners and walls, falling up stairs, etc." ... Would like to go on "Survivor" because "I would want to challenge myself and see how I could handle living in the middle of nowhere without technology or the luxuries of civilization" ... Hobbies include reading, golfing, skiing and volunteering ... Has volunteered at her church (Faith Community Presbyterian) ... Biggest life-defining moment is coming back from hand surgery to win the 2008 World Junior title ... Fell at the 2003 Midwestern Sectional and broke her two front teeth ... Would like to meet Tiger Woods to discuss his success and how he obtained it ... If she weren't a skater, she would be a ballroom dancer...and a normal college student ... Would like to get a job she enjoys and raise a family after her skating career ... Follow her on Twitter at Twitter.com/EmilySamuelson.

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