Nation's oldest roller skater right here in Houston area
KATY, TX (KTRK) -- It's National Roller Skating Month, a promotion started by President Ronald Reagan in 1983, and we have comeback story that may make you want to lace up your skates too!
Inside the Mason Road Skate Center in Katy fancy footwork, jumps and spins are on display.
"It's done wonders for my health coming back to it," says Mykal Pedraza from the side of the rink where he practices.
There are champions and then there's Pedraza.
"It's something that is just not done," Pedraza said.
The artistic roller skater started at 13 but he took his skates off at 19 after a bad car accident.
Roll forward 37 years and he is competing again! Not just competing but in the age group "18 and up." H
"There's a big gap, there's a big gap there," he said.
He's not only pursuing his passion again but winning gold and unanimously with the judges.
"It still hasn't sunk in and my coach has to remind me of my age because I forget," Pedraza said.
Pedraza will turn 57 New Year's Day and now holds the record for the oldest skater to win gold in a national freestyle event. The 2014 USA Roller Sports Figure National Championships took place in Lincoln, Nebraska this summer.
"I never listened to the other people saying I couldn't and I just thought I'm going to go for it," he said.
The Houston business owner and interior designer lives and practices in Houston but trains in San Antonio. He returned to competition three years ago.
The champion says roller skating is making a comeback in the U.S. for all ages. Now that he's a part of it again he doesn't plan on taking off the skates anytime soon saying with a laugh, "as long as my body will hold up."
