Rachael Flatt is known for her skating skills (she's a two-time U.S. silver medalist) and academic prowess (her record is flawless). Beyond her status as a standout student-athlete, you might not know these five things about Rachael Flatt.

1. She can surf
Rachael spent her childhood in the beachside community of Del Mar, Calif. where surfing was a way of life. Though she doesn't consider herself an expert, it is an activity she enjoys. The Flatts moved to Colorado when Rachael was eight for her father's job, first to Boulder then Colorado Springs. Rachael has since substituted one form of water for another-from liquid to frozen, but she definitely prefers the sun. "I absolutely adore the beach," she says. "We go California and Hawaii a little too much, just to get our beach fix in."

2. She's a budding chef
Rachael's repertoire includes fresh pasta, gnocchi, Shopska salad (a traditional Bulgarian salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, peppers and feta or sirine cheese), her mom's secret recipe for Greek chicken and grilled nectarine salad (a summer favorite). Favorite ingredients are heirloom tomatoes (she's sampled 37 kinds - zebra tomatoes are her favorites), asparagus, Silver Queen Corn and Japanese eggplant. She's also mastered her AP chemistry teacher's oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. The cookies are a traditional treat for students who achieve 100 percent on tests - or in Rachael's case, after major competitions. ("That's not to say that I have not received 100 percent on her tests," she says.)

3. She loves The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
"Oddly enough, it's televised quite often in Europe and Asia, great to watch when I am traveling for competitions," Rachael says. Other favorite TV shows include The Office, Project Runway and NBC's Parks and Recreation.

4. She's a tennis nut
"I love tennis," Rachael says. "A special memory of mine is driving back to Colorado from Sun Valley on the July 4th, 2008 weekend, and listening to the BBC on satellite radio in the middle of Wyoming, listening to Wimbledon on the radio. The BBC broadcasters have an amazing way about them, using words that you normally don't hear in common use here in the U.S. We listened to the Nadal-Federer match and the enthusiasm for the match was incredible. I have played tennis and attended tennis camp for years in southern California. In fact, my parents still belong to our tennis club in San Diego so that when we are back visiting, we can get in a quick match."

5. Her first NBC interview was well before she was a star skater
Rachael and her mother skated in the background of a Dorothy Hamill and Peggy Fleming documentary. While in New York, Rachael toured the NBC Studios and ran into NBC's Dan Hicks. "I had seen him on the Olympic shows," Rachael said. "I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, I've seen that guy on TV.'" Hicks coached Rachael through a mock interview. "I have to admit, it's a little embarrassing," Rachael says. "It's funny."