The Super Bowl may take place this Sunday, but in Flemington, there is a far bigger sporting event taking place that many residents will watch - the Olympic debut of a Flemington resident who has the whole town bursting with pride.

Resident Patti Kerr reminisces watching Kimi Goetz, the once-little girl from down the street skating up and down the neighborhood with her big sister Samantha. And on Sunday morning, Kerr and most of the neighborhood will watch Goetz make her debut in the Olympic speed skating event.

“She’s the real deal. She’s an amazing, amazing, girl,” says Kerr.

Goetz’s mother Linda Goetz is beside herself with pride.

“Beyond words. When we saw her walk in with Team USA, it was just one of the best moments of my life,” Linda says.

Kimi Goetz’s journey began at the Frenchtown Roller Rink. She joined the Frenchtown speed team in-line roller skating team when she was just 8 years old. It was serious competition.

“We went to nationals every year,” says Linda. That was our vacation. Lincoln, Nebraska – Omaha.”

After winning many in-line roller skating events, Kimi Goetz moved to Utah in 2012 and jumped into the wild and unpredictable sport of short track speed skating. At the 2018 Olympic trials, she crashed and sustained a concussion.

Goetz double down on her commitment to skating and she then switched to the comparatively less treacherous sport of long track speed skating. It was a great relief for her mom.

“I aged a lot of years, I’ll be very honest,” says Linda.

It was a move that finally landed Kimi on the Olympic speed skating team.

“It’s deserved. She did it. She earned it. She earned everything she is experiencing in Beijing. It’s 1,000% earned,” Linda says.

Friends and family will gather on Sunday to watch Goetz’s debut. She will compete in the 500-meter race Sunday at 8 a.m., EST and the 1,000-meter race on Thursday.