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Rachael Flatt has spent the last few weeks in a flurry of activity. (Getty Images)

By Amy Rosewater, special to icenetwork.com

(11/24/2009) - If anyone needs a break this Thanksgiving holiday, it's Rachael Flatt.

The two-time U.S. silver medalist has spent the last few weeks in a flurry of activity. It all began late last month, when she traveled to compete in the Cup of China where she placed fourth. She returned to her home in Colorado Springs, Colo., 36 hours after she planned to because a snowstorm in Beijing delayed flights.

After getting back into her practice routine for a few days, she was flying again, this time to Lake Placid, N.Y., for Skate America. Although she fell on her triple-triple combination in the short program, she rebounded with a seven-triple laden performance and bested world champion Yu-Na Kim in the free skate.

As excited as Flatt was, she didn't have much time to celebrate. She still had an exhibition performance to give, media obligations to fulfill and early the next morning, she was off to Washington, D.C.

A little after 1:00 p.m., hours after rehearsals began for "Kaleidoscope," a cancer-awareness benefit show featuring Olympic gold medalists Scott Hamilton and Dorothy Hamill, both cancer survivors, Flatt was back on the ice. She was joined by some of the biggest skating stars as well as musical guests Olivia Newton-John and American Idol runner-ups David Archuleta and Katharine McPhee.

Flatt barely had time to practice and eat dinner before she was performing in front of a live audience. As if that wasn't enough, she arose early the next morning for a breakfast reception and then headed to Capitol Hill to meet with U.S. senators, physicians and sponsors to discuss cancer research and policies.

"What a whirlwind week," she said. "No, make that whirlwind couple of weeks."

Not that Flatt is complaining. She is thankful for it all, and probably even more thankful that she can sit back this holiday and check out the TV special (which will air on FOX at 4:00 p.m. ET Thanksgiving Day) in the comfort of her own home.

"What an amazing show!'" Flatt said. "I can't wait to see how it all turns out on TV. The set was amazing and the crew worked hard to pull it all together in a short period of time."

In an Olympic year, there is rarely any down time. But Flatt, considered one of the top contenders to make the U.S. Olympic team, has been especially busy. There are less than 80 days remaining before the cauldron is lit at the Opening Ceremony for the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, and in that time, Flatt plans to work with Canadian choreographer Lori Nichol to fine tune her routines and with her mentor, Hamill.

Hamill and Flatt keep in touch throughout the season, mainly via text messages. In Washington last week, Flatt had a few brief moments to chat with Hamill during the "Kaleidoscope" practices. But you can't blame Hamill for that. In addition to performing in the show last week, Hamill had to prepare for a wedding-her own. This past Saturday, she married John MacColl, a Baltimore consultant.

For the Olympians, it was a time to catch up with one another. Kristi Yamaguchi signed autographs for young fans who know her from Dancing with the Stars fame and older ones who remember her as the 1992 figure skating Olympic champion. She and Hamilton chatted about Yamaguchi's navy blue Converse skate covers.

For the Olympic hopefuls, the show came as a welcome break from the rigors of training. In addition to Flatt, the TV special also will showcase competitive skaters Ashley Wagner, the only American woman who will compete in the ISU Grand Prix Final in Tokyo next week, also was in Washington for the show. U.S. ice dancing champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White, U.S. silver medalist Brandon Mroz and 2008 U.S. junior champion Alexe Gilles also performed. Johnny Weir, who is seeking his second trip to the Olympics, was a last-minute scratch. He was ill and was replaced by Olympic gold medalist Viktor Petrenko.

"It is interesting to be in the competitive mode for weeks and then quickly turn around and do a show for television," Flatt said. "Lots of laughs ... but also lots of hard work."

The focus for Flatt, of course, is the competitive circuit. Her performance at Skate America provided a much-needed confidence booster.

"I am very happy for the most part, with my performances in Lake Placid," she said. "I had been training very well prior to Skate America, and the old adage-practice like it's a competition and then you will compete like you practice-really came into play.

"I have been running clean seven-triple long programs as well as clean short programs with the triple flip-triple toe prior to Skate America so to fall on the triple-triple was a little disappointing as I think it was one of the few jumping passes I missed all week, in practice or competition."

Watching Kim post a world-record score in the short program was awe-inspiring for Flatt.

"It is great to see athletes continue to push the envelope in their respective sport, as it helps the sport evolve," Flatt said. "I really like to use the energy created at an event like Skate America to push me to be my best. And with the confidence in my training, it helped me push myself in the long program."

Sure, there are elements of Flatt's skating that can be improved-she can't afford to have a spin discounted like she had at Skate America-but she is heading to nationals with a lot of confidence in her skating.

She has a little bit of time remaining to fine tune everything between now and the AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Spokane, Wash., in January. As for today, like many Americans, Flatt actually can take a quick breather.