These sisters are sizzling on the ice

“I’m the one who always has a bow,” explains Camille Leoni.

The bow isn’t the only thing that distinguishes 9-year-old Camille from her 11-year-old sister Victoria. Victoria is a bit smaller than her “little” sister and has darker hair. Both have bubbly personalities, but somewhat different interests. For example, Victoria loves ballet, while Camille would just as soon skip her dance lessons.

They also have many similarities. The big one is their shared love for ice skating — the kind you see in the Olympics. Camille and Victoria are two of Petaluma’s best, but least known, athletes.

Although they have been skating for only about two years, both are accomplished performers. They recently placed against some of the area’s top skaters in the regional competition. Victoria was second in her class, while Camille was third in her division.

There are really three Leonis skating up a storm at the Redwood Empire Ice Arena in Santa Rosa. Paul Leoni, 8, is just getting started, but is already a dynamo on skates.

“He is my fireball,” says mom, Kathleen Peterson Leoni.

The Leoni skaters came from an athletic family. Kathleen is a member of the Petaluma High School Hall of Fame, chosen for her accomplishments on the tennis courts. Father Peter Leoni was an outstanding athlete at St. Vincent High School.

All four children — eldest son Alex, 13, plays ice hockey — have taken after their parents in their love for sports.

It is the girls who are making their mark right now, even as they look to the future.

“I want to win the Olympics,” says Camille, who likes to think big, and is quick to express her thoughts.

Meanwhile, both she and her sister are having fun, while working hard at what they love.

Their hard work translates into seven days on the ice almost every week and ballet practice (much to Victoria’s delight and Camille’s chagrin) two days a week.

But for the sisters, practice really isn’t work.

They are enthusiastic and in agreement on why they love to practice — “We get to be on the ice, and we get to be with our coaches.”

Both skaters absolutely adore coaches Colleen Phillips and Ainis Lejins.

“They are the greatest,” says Victoria.

Both coaches agree that the Leonis have not only the athletic ability, but the intangibles to be very good at their chosen sport.

“You have to love to skate,” says Lejins. “It has to be fun and it has to come from the heart. You don’t have to push Camille and Victoria, you just lead them.”

Of course, athletic ability helps.

“All three of them have exceptional talent,” says Phillips, including Paul. “But you also have to love the sport.”

You also have to have understanding and committed parents who are willing to carry the expenses in both money and time to give the young athletes the opportunity to succeed.

“Skating is an expensive sport,” points out Phillips. “It takes a commitment from the parents. But it is definitely a good investment. It teaches the kids social skills, how to be a good sport and how to deal with the judges’ results, whether they are good or bad.”

Kathleen agrees that it both takes commitment and that the rewards are worth the sacrifice.

“To be good you have to stay on it,” she says. “It takes practice, practice, practice. But it is what the girls want to do. They absolutely love it.”

Their love of skating hasn’t prevented the sisters from being excellent students.

Both Victoria, a sixth-grader, and Camille, a fourth-grader, are straight-A students at McNear Elementary School.

(Contact John Jackson at acsports@arguscourier.com)