Family on the fast track.

When Ryan Cox was four years old, he went to a local skating center with his day care group. Little did he know that it would lead to a great skating career.

But the skating center's owner and skate coach did. After seeing Ryan's athletic ability, David Downing persuaded Ryans's mom to let him join the speed skating team. Three weeks later, after only a few practices, Ryan placed second in his first meet.

Now, at age eleven, Ryan races competitively on both in-line skates and regular roller skates, known as quads. He is a 1994 United States Confederation of Roller Skating national champion in the elementary four-boy relay division. In 1994, he excelled in practically every event in which he was entered: individuals, two-boy elementary relay, two-mixed relay, four-boy elementary relay, four-mixed relay, and quads.

This year, he finished in the top six in all of his events and won a bronze medal in the two-boy elementary relay.

"I love to skate my best and try to win. I like the competition," says Ryan, of Cumming, Georgia.

Ryan isn't the only skating talent in the family, though. When he first began skating, his sister Jennifer tagged along to watch his practices and meets. But she got bored being on the sidelines - she wanted to skate, too.

Jennifer, now nine years old, has won her share of meets, like placing first in her division at the Georgia State Games in 1994 and 1995. Ryan also placed first in his division. The brother and sister have been so successful that they have won more than 400 skating trophies! "I like getting out there and having fun." Jennifer says. "I like racing against other people, doing relays, and going fast. Just being on skates makes me feel good."

Although the duo has natural athletic talent, they practice five days a week, after school and on weekends. When training for a big event, such as Nationals, Ryan skates every day. Ryan says he wants to continue skating and is "trying to get a major sponsor."

"Their commitment is a sign of future world-class skaters," says coach David.

Ryan and Jennifer's love of skating has become a family affair. Their dad is a skating referee, and their mom plans to learn to skate soon. Looks like this family will be rolling along for years to come!