>> reporter: it wasn't quite the olympics just yet for 15- year-old polina edmunds. but it sure sounded like it. >> usa! usa! >> it feels great. it's just so exciting to have everybody on my side. it's a huge boost going into the olympics knowing i have so many people at home cheering for me. >> reporter: the archbishop mitty high school is just a few days away before taking part in the biggest competition of her life. the teen who has been on skates since she was 3, got quite the sendoff from her classmates and even some advice from brandy chastain who give her her olympic pin. >> good luck. but more importantly, be fearless. go out and skate your heart out and be who you are. >> reporter: and four-time olympian kerry walsh. >> we're proud of you. you've done the hard work. the hard work is getting to the olympics. >> reporter: it will be quite the task for po lena to remain focused. she has to deal with the olympics itself and also school work. >> i expect the olympic village to be a very safe place. from what we've heard already, u.s. figure skating has had delega

we're all rooting for polina edmunds as she makes her way to the licks. here at the school, they plan to have a special sendoff srnl and assembly in a couple of hours from now. [ cheers ] >> reporter: now, this isn't the only sendoff. yesterday she was the guest of honor at the san jose ice rink. there many friends and training partners wished her good luck. the 15-year-old olympian did final preparations before competing in the 2014 winter games. she's taking three weeks worth of homework with wher. this young lady is staying focused. she's excited for the olympics as well. >> i'm just training as i always have been just like it's for any other competition. it just so happens to be for the olympics. yeah. it's pretty cool and once i get there, i'm just really excited to experience everything that the olympics has to offer. >> reporter: she's a sophomore here and the first student to make it to the olympics while attending to school. other athletes like kerry walsh and brandy chastain all went to the olympics as well. but after they were graduated. the se

this weekend at 15, polina edmunds made the u.s. olympic figure skating team. >> it really hasn't sunk in yet, but it it is very exciting and it just makes me really happy and really proud. >> thank you. >> reporter: the sophomore from san jose is the youngest u.s. winter olympian since her idol tar la lipinski in 1998, those who know the teen knew this was coming. >> plain old hard work and she and her family have been fully committed to this since day one. >> i'm very proud of my daughter. she was good from the beginning, from the time i would say she was born, because i can see very unusual things. >> reporter: her mom is part of her team of coaches. this trip for the two to sochi is extra special. >> it's very exciting and it's just so crazy to think that i'm going to the olympics in russia where my mom grew up. >> reporter: she was last year's u.s. junior champion and there is talk that right now, she is the future of ice skating. >> i feel a little bit nervous, of course, because i want to skate well. but i'm just excited to g

figure skater polina edmunds will represent the u-s in the winter olympics. kron 4's justine waldman caught up with the 15 -year old. to find out how she plans to bring home a gold medal. if i want something pretty bad i usually get my way for that. do you want an olympic gold pretty bad? totally i dream. focused, funny and fired- up. 15 year old polina edmunds will lace up her skates to compete in the winter olypmics. spot. it makes me happy that everyone has been with me since i was little and watch me grow as skater and now accomplishing this huge think you >> : shouldn't skating since she was 2 years old. her coaches knew she was. phyllis and she could become of very good competitor. her mother believes her daughter will stand on the podium. >> : i'm detecting increasing levels of happiness. ...and the speed readings are off the chart! paradise found! luscious locks. great glittering galaxies. the happiest place on earth keeps getting happier! explore more, and save up to 25% on select nights at a disneyland resort hotel. there's no end in sight. i'm goin

. >>> polina edmunds is going to the olympics. the 15-year-old skater from san jose took sec in the u.s. figure skating champions this weekend. she is one of three on the team heading to sochi next month. the sophomore has the most technically difficult free program among the americans. >>> security is being beefed up in russia ahead of the winter olympics. passengers are banned from having liquids in carry on bags, the rules are part of a wider security crack down, concerns have been growing since two bombs went off killing 35 people. >>> united airline travelers will soon have access to a new boarding area at sfo. work has been going on for months. the new boarding area will debut january 28 in terminal 3. the location will offer 10 gates and an entertainment area, multiple dining options and a yoga room. >>> pope francis prevides over a potential ceremony -- prosides over a special ceremony today. two dozen babies are bab tized and the words of encouragement the pope had for the mothers. >> and a plan to limit iran's nuclear pr

. >>> polina edmunds is heading to the sochi olympics. today she returned home from boston.e witnessed her reception and to find out her plan for winning the gold. >> if i want something pretty bad, i usually get my way. >> reporter: do you want the olympic gold? >> totally. i think that's the ultimate thing. >> reporter: she will lace up her skates to compete in the olympics. she placed second, securing her spot. >> it makes me happy that everybody has been with me since i was little and watched me grow as a skater and now i'm accomplishing these huge things. >> reporter: she's been skating since she was two years of age. her mother, who also acts as a coach, believes her daughter will stand on the podium. >> i -- [ inaudible ] >> reporter: act at her practice rink her younger brother's hockey team came to say congratulations. the sophomore in high school like lady gaga, dancing ballet and tells me she always make her bed. >> my favorite food is everything because i just love food. >> reporter: hungry to win, there's no time to get nervous, but just channel her energy so sh

polina edmunds found out she and two other figure skaters were named to the team. she is the first female figure skater from the bay area competing in the olympics since -- >> kristi yamaguchi. >> i think that i'm really happy that i did it and it's an olympic year and i'm excited to see what happens from here on out. >> we are excited for you. polina's dad is thrilled. he says the sophomore will have a lot to juggle in the coming weeks. >> i don't think it's all sunk in as much. but you know, we're very proud of her and she will probably miss about three weeks of school and you know, they are serious about school there so we have to stay on top of that while she's going to the olympics as well. >> i look forward to her essay what i did last winter. middy high also home to two other medalists. kerri walsh and brandi chastain. >> the bay area produces a lot of olympians. >> we do. >> very nice. hope the ice doesn't melt if you are out. do they have downtown ice in san jose open? i think so. >> i'm not sure. vile to check on that during the break. you can check it ou

. >> how the south bay is rallying around polina edmunds. that's next. >>> okay. olympic games now less than two weeks away and the athletes have their bags packed. one of them is right here in south bay. on friday, the high school is having a send offparty for skater polina ed munds. they will also be selling team polina merchandise. we have some of this. look how cute. go, poll li na. >> look at that. >> apparently while she's in sochi, she'll be taking with her her spanish and science homework. >> she has to take her homework? >> she has to. she's a straight a student. >> i think she should take you to you can cheer for her. >> it will be janel. >> high school sendoff on friday. one final note. president obama will be delivering the state of the union address tonight our coverage begins next with brian williams at k5 30. mr. obama will begin his address at 6:00. >> you can always find us online at nbcbayarea.com. bye-bye. >>> on our broadcast tonight, the bitter blast as a rare winter weather event hits the deep south. the kind of weather not seen in a generati

add polina edmunds to the list.betty yu talked to the 15-year-old phenom who earned a spot at next month's winter games in russia. >> reporter: she was on the ice at 20 months out of bed at 5 a.m. on most school days, and at the rink six days a week. in weekend at 15 polina edmunds made the u.s. olympics team. >> it hasn't sunk in yet but it's exciting and makes me happy and proud. >> reporter: the sophomore from san jose is the youngest u.s. winter olympian since her idol tara lipinski in 1998. those who know the teen knew this was coming. >> plain old hard work. she and her family have been committed to this since day one. >> i'm proud of my daughter. >> she was good from the beginning from the time i would say she was born because i can see very unusual things. >> reporter: her mom is part of her team of coaches. this trip for the two to sochi is extra special. >> it's very exciting. and it's just so crazy to think that i'm going to the olympics in russia where my mom grew up. >> reporter: she was last year's u.s

back to training for figure skater, polina edmunds. first put on a pair of skates 20 months old. >> wow. >> between now -- >> wasn't walking yet. >> edmonds will try to balance being a normal teenage somewhere good student while perfecting her olympic routine. >> i just haven't set into the fact that i'm going to the olympics yet. so i just don't feel like all normal, like i came home. i think in a few days it will start to sink in and i'll be really, really excited. >> last female figure skater from the bay area to qualify for the olympics, kristi yamaguchi, 22 years ago. >> quite a legacy. let's check in with mike, see what's going on traffic wise. >> we have that one lane still blocked getting off the bay bridge. we'll look at our emeriville camera. stacked up heading toward the berkeley curve off of the bridge. i saw a couple sets of flashing lights. we'll look at view from the toll plaza. over on the right side we saw flashing lights heading away from the bridge. we may see movement in a couple of minutes. >>> still ahead on "toda

. >>> san jose figure skater polina edmunds is back in school after winning a spot on the u.s. olympic team that will compete in sochi. edmunds jumped and spun her way to a silver medal at the national championships last weekend. yesterday was the first chance her schoolmates had to congratulate her in person. she was confident going into the competition. that's the attitude she'll have going into the olympics. >> i've been skating for 13 years. that's a pretty long time. i thought it was definitely possible. it was always my dream. >> we'll be happy if she just goes and has a great experience and comes back, you know, she'll be a champion in our eyes either way i think. >> she will miss three weeks of school for the winter games but she says her parents have already arranged for her to take all of her home work with her. >>> the man who leaves what he or -- what he or she calls tips from jesus left a big one. this is the credit card ship. the bill is $147. the tip, $3,000. restaurant managers say the diner also paid the entire bill for the table next to him. >>> well, there ar

polina edmunds of san jose won the silver medal at the nationals in boston over the weekend. yesterday she found out she and two other figure skaters were named to the team. she will be the first female figure skater from the bay area competing since kristi yamaguchi in 1992. >> my results were very good and very fair. and i think that i'm really happy that i did it in this olympic year and i'm excited to see what happens from here on out. >> we're excited for you. her dad also thrilled by the news. he says the sophomore at archbishop high school has a lot to juggle. >> i don't think it's all sunk in as much. but we're very proud of her and will probably miss about three weeks of school and they are serious about school there so we have to stay on top of that while she's gone to the olympics as well. >> middy high school home to two other olympians, kerri walsh in volleyball and polina returns later today. >> one of the top two spots, the third went to ashley wagner despite finishing fourth. the nationals typically serve as an olympics trial. >> congratulations to those that

the heightened tension is of little concern to san jose's 15-year-old figure skater polina edmunds as she prepared to go to the games. her family is from russia. >> just focus on your training and you know, i don't think any of us are worried about anything, we're just real excited to go and experience the olympic games. >> more than 30,000 russian troops have been mobilized to protect the games t winter olympics are just 16 days away. >> at 4:46, happening today new jersey governor chris christie will be sworn in for his second term. he will likely spend at least the beginning of his second term dealing with a pair of political scandals. in the latest hoboken mayor democrat dawn zimmer accused several members of christie's camp of threatening to withhold sandy relief funds unless she supported a major commercial development project. >> she said i know it's not right, i know they should not be connected and they are and if you tell any one i'll deny it. >> that any one would hold back sandy relief funds for any reason is wholly and completely false. >> there are also two separate inve

polina edmund is considering life as a celebrity.ced second at the national skating championships earlier this month. i've been having fun looking at her facebook and twitter pages. they are filled with typical photos of her with her friends. there are big named sponsors sending her off to so much choi. san jose boasting merchandise that posts the profits will go to the cancer society. her week has been filled with final practices at her home rink in san jose. there's also a sendoff at her high school, which by the way is the same high school where kerry walsh and brandi chastain went to school. she's heard from them on twitter as well. tomorrow morning there will be a special assembly and sendoff for polina edmunds. in our next hour of "mornings on 2," there is a new event in figure skating at the olympics. i will tell you about that. pam cook, ktvu channel 2 news. >> looking forward to hearing about that. >>> let's check in with sal. see what's happening on the roads. it's not as bad as i guess you feared with this rainfall. >> i t

polina edmunds placed second in the ladies' short program on thursday. she is a sophomore in high school and trains at san jose ice. she's also a student at dance theater international. her dancing friends were thrilled to see how well she did in the short program. >> it was cool. i wasn't really expecting her to go to the olympics. but she's really good ice skater. >> yes, she appears to be quite good. tonight she's in the last group for the ladies' free skate event. the top three skaters in boston earn a trip to sochi next month. good luck to her. >>> henry wofford with comcast sports net now. henry, what's going on in your world? >> you know, diane, once i saw that young lady skating on ice, i'm wondering, why can't we get roller skating in the summer olympics? i would win a gold medal, i'm telling you. i'm really smooth. and my slim figure, of course. it definitely helps. but coming up in sports, we'll take you around the wcc with highlights from the college hardwood. plus the latest on a pair of 49er coaches who may be on the move. and we'll tell yo

the high school will say good-bye to figure skater polina edmunds. the sophomore will be the youngest person representing the u.s. in women's figure skating. as we mentioned the winter games start in six days. nbc bay area is your home for all of your olympic coverage. for more on the 20 athletes from northern california visit our website nbcbayarea.com. >> a follow-up now on a toy company will get its 30 seconds of fame. goldie blocks won that commercial contest part of the grand prize, the silicon valley company will cover the $4 million price tag for airing the ad. wilt be shown in the third quarter on sunday. goldie blocks tries to inspire girls to think outside the box with math and engineering projects. created by a former stanford student. it beat out more than 20,000 small businesses from across the country. >> cool to see. well, with super bowl to baseball. spring training weeks away. for many giants fans the season gets off tomorrow. >> so much fun. we're talking about fan fest, tens of thousands of fans expected to plug the field at at&t p

. >>> friends and family of polina edmunds are getting ready to send her off to the olympics in russia. the high school student is on the u.s. olympic figure skating team after placing second in the national championships. she has asked her teachers for three weeks worth of school work so she won't fall behind while in russia. >>> police say a man held a young woman captive for years. she was finally able to escape. pled guilty to the charges against him. but tonight, police are shedding more light on exactly what happened during this woman's time in captivity. those details tonight at 5:00. >>> thank you for making ktvu your choice for news. we'll see you the next time news breaks. we're always here for you at ktvu.com and you can follow us on twitter and facebook. ♪ ♪ turn around ♪ every now and then i get a little bit hungry ♪ ♪ and there's nothing good for me around ♪ ♪ turn around ♪ every now and then i get a little bit tired ♪ ♪ of craving something that i can't have ♪ ♪ turn around, barbara ♪ forever i've been praying for a snack in my life ♪ ♪ and now i have a brownie ending al

the hotel itself will be preserved and restored. >>> polina edmunds is back at school after winning apot on the u.s. olympic team that will compete in sochi next month. she jumped and spun her way to a silver medal last weekend. yesterday was the first chance for students to congratulate her in person. she said she was confident going into the competition. that's the attitude she will have going into the olympics. >> been skating for 13 years. it's a pretty long time. i thought it was definitely possible. it was always my dream. >> we'll be happy if she just goes and has a great experience and comes back. she'll be a champion in our eyes either way, i think. >> edmunds will miss three weeks of school for the winter games but she says her parents have already arranged for her to take all her schoolwork with her so she still has to study even when she's at the olympics. >> she's a star. >> uh-huh. >>> let's check back with sal. you are still watching the toll plaza and everything else? >> yes. as a matter of fact, it's finally getting better in the east bay. if you have the luxe of be -

the tension is of little concern to 15-year-old figure skating sensation polina edmunds as she prepares to go to the games. her family is from russia. >> just focus on the training. i don't think -- i think we're excited to go and persons the games. >> more than 30,000 russian groups have been finalized. >> hundreds of thousands of tickets are still unsold. sochi offered 1.1 million and about 300,000 are up for grabs. there are signs that foreign fans are turned off because of all of the terror expense and a shortage of tourist attractions close to the venue. let's check in with christina for a microclimate forecast. >> so many of them. good morning to you scott and laura. take a look at how hard my job can be sometimes. the north bay at 32, we're 10 degrees warmer just down the road along the peninsula. we're seeing temperatures bat average as we start the day. then we blow past that 5 to 10 degrees into each afternoon. our days are longer. we have buy pass statistically. we've got changes. your seven-day should get subtle changes. into next week i'm going to show you when the storm tr

polina edmunds won over the weekend. she found out she and two others were named to the team. she will be the first fee fael skart from bay area in the olympics since kristi yamaguchi back in 1992. >> my results were very good, and very fair. and i think that i'm really happy that i did it and it's an olympic year and i'm really excited to see what happens from here on out. >> we are excited for you. as well as her father. he is thrilled. he says the sophomore will have a lot to juggle. >> i don't think it's all sunk in as much, but you know, we're very proud of her. she will probably miss about three weeks of school and you know, they are serious about school there so we have to stay on top of that while she's going to the olympics as well. >> middy high school home to two others in gold, kerri walsh and brandi chastain. >> a heck of a note for the teachers why she is going to miss class. i'll be at the olympics. check it out on tvment she earned one of the top two. the third to ashley wagner despite finishing fourth. and that is causing controversy. the nationals typically s

. >> polina edmunds is still in san jose. her high school archbishop middy is going to give the sophomore a proper send-off. you can see on the school website it is very proud of polina. the sharks ice where she trains also cheering for her. it's created a board where people can write down their well wishes. it's selling team polina merchandise as well. >> going to sochi is steve marrone who works at the sharks as director of events. he's not an athlete but a guy that will make sure every hockey game at the ice dome goes smoothly. the same thing he does for the sharks. he tells the "mercury news" he will monitor 27 games. it will be his fourth time working the winter olympics. keeping everything going. >> i got to go to a hockey game at the salt lake city olympics. really exciting. great fun. >> it is 5:26. a deadly crash shutting down traffic on one south bay freeway. what police are now telling us. >> plus, despite being found guilty of murder in italy, amanda knox will have to wait months before finding out if she must retu

and then another surprise was polina edmunds, a little 15-year-old that blew everyone away and ended. we don't know if she'll be going to the olympics, but there is a chance. it's not necessarily the top three who are going to make it onto the team. explain to us how that works. >> there's a selection process that will happen today, so everyone is still very nervous. we don't know what's going to happen. they look back over your past year, your accomplishments, what you've done. ashley wagner got the u.s. team three spots to go to the olympics this past worlds. so they take a lot into consideration. >> so, they'll be looking at that. we mentioned three women get to go, but only two men going to sochi. we'll be seeing more of that today. who do you think we're going to see headed to sochi for the mens? >> i don't know. it's so exciting. an olympic year is so different than any other year. everyone is so nervous. everyone's at the top of their game. jeremy abbott came out in the short program and was incredible. quads, everything you could think of. our defending national champion, not

polina edmunds finished second last week in u.s.ed as one of three u.s. women to compete in sochi, russia next month. >> it hasn't sunk in yet. but it is very exciting and it makes me really happy and really proud. >> edmunds first took to the ice at the age of 20 months, if you can believe that. she regularly trains at sharks ice near spartan stadium. edmunds will be the youngest u.s. winter olympian since her idol tara lipinski who competed in 1998. >>> some people say children are the key to happiness but two new studies show that may not be true. studies by princeton and stony brook university found there's very little difference when it comes to how happy parents are compared to nonparents. but nonparents do tend to have more money and are more highly educated. >>> a chef isn't mincing words about babies in restaurants. the chef at a good chicago restaurant saying he is considering banning infants. should people take infants to plays and concerts? hate saying no, but -- >> aww. poor babies. >> okay. >>> coming up in the next ha

. >> polina edmunds will be heading to sochi. her high school will send her off in style.he 15iard -year-old is the you representing the u.s. in figure skating. >> a school apologizing to parents after taking away students' lunch because they didn't have enough in their account. the salt lake school district calling it a mistake taking more than 30 students' lunches away after they were served throwing those in the trash. the students were handed milk and fruit. the district said it did notify parents about negative account balances but some parents say they never got the message. a district spokesperson says they will review that notification system. >> meantime, schools in atlanta remain closed following this week's deadly ice storm. the subfreezing temperatures creating concerns over black ice making driving conditions dangerous. about 2,000 cars were just abandoned during the storm. they are still on roadways. in the meantime, government officials are responding to criticism that their response was too slow. the governor says he's asked for an internal review from all

polina edmunds. the 15-year- old just qualified for this year's winter olympics in sochi. by finishing second at this weekend's u-s figure skating championships. kron-4's justine waldman got the chance to speak to the people who know her best -- her training partners and supporters in san jose. >> she is now one of america's best skaters. maligned she secured her spot after a second place finish. at 15 years old, she is a skating sensation. to get to the olympics, she laid back her skates. at the practice facility where she attends, her success is no surprise. >> everyone wants to beat lache heard. >> she started skating was it was 2 years old. her mother and her coach was from russia. they considered dedication set her apart. >> if you practice at 5:00 in the morning and then go to school and then come back for another practice. yes, you can tell this a really wants that. >> she is a sophomore in high school. her principal could not be more proud. maligned >> the olympics will be following this first international yvette. those will look up to her fill another metal is de