New York Times: University of Michigan student Caitlin Mallory skates for Estonia

Caitlin Mallory is a 22-year-old University of Michigan student who grew up in California. She briefly considered abandoning her United States citizenship to compete on the Estonia Olympics team as a figure skater.

Mallory is one of several skaters featured a New York Times article that examines the International Skating Union rules that require just one member of a dance team to have a passport from the country they represent.

Mallory, who studies neuroscience at Michigan, partners with Kristjan Rand. From the Times article:

“It was a hard, really hard decision,” Mallory said of considering taking on citizenship in Estonia. “When it came down to the last month before I really had to make the decision, I consulted my parents and some lawyers to try to work out what it would mean logistically for me to be able to go to school in Michigan and be able to continue training in the U.S., and we just realized it was too much of a sacrifice for one competition.”