Georgia gives passport to American figure skater, 3rd in family to compete for another country

Georgia gives passport to American figure skater

TALLINN, Estonia — Georgia’s figure skating federation says it has granted citizenship to Allison Reed, an American who competes in ice dance with Georgian skater Otar Japaridze.

The move makes the New Jersey native the third in her family to skate for another country. Cathy and Chris are ice dancers representing Japan.

The Reeds’ father is American and their mother is Japanese.

The federation said Allison Reed was presented her new passport by Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili on Thursday while he was visiting Estonia, where the European Figure Skating Championships are taking place.

Reed and Japaridze were in 19th place after the original dance segment — not high enough to advance to Friday’s free dance.