French Native Makes Mark as Oklahoma Citizen

Clarence Robinet feels blessed and honored to be an American, but her goal wasn't to just be an American. She wanted to live it, earn it and compete for it.

Wednesday, May 27th 2009, 10:42 am

By: News 9


By Doug Warner, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Six years ago Clarence Robinet's dream really did come true. The French native became a U.S. citizen.

Clarence Robinet feels blessed and honored to be an American, but her goal wasn't to just be an American. She wanted to live it, earn it and compete for it.

Robinet could've just taken her American flag and got a job like the rest of us. Her lips and voice have certainly earned her a living in Oklahoma City so far, teaching.

But her quick feet have also helped her become quite the accomplished two-stepper.

"I love county music, so I thought, why not dancing on it since I love listening to it?" Robinet said.

She won gold at last year's Country Western World Championships. And those same feet have skated her to three straight titles at the Sooner State Games.

"Well, it's my whole life, it's my passion," Robinet said.

She has even found a way to combine passions. Somehow she hasn't let her new found American-ism spin completely out of control.

"I plan on doing it until my bones say ‘no,'" she said.

Robinet's day planner is full of activities that keep her busy.

Somewhere between teaching French, her country dancing, splitting time on the dance floor, her ice skating and earning her wings on the ice, she's added yet another breathtaking venture.

"Hmm, it might be weird to say, but I like weapons," Robinet said.

Her aim and precision have earned her top honors as the reigning Sooner State Games - Women's 22 Pistol Shooting Champion.

"I think if she set her mind to it, she could win a gold medal in the Olympics," a gun range owner said.

The man who runs the gun range believes in Robinet's talent.

"Well, that's very nice of him," Robinet said. "I hope so."

She has so many talents and so little time in the day. Maybe only Hollywood could produce a person seemingly capable of as much. However Oklahoma's proud new American calls it her next big idea.

"I'm thinking of doing theatre," she said.

Next month Roninet will defend her shooting title at the Sooner State Games. Then it's off to nationals in both shooting, and skating in July and August.

Robinet speaks five languages. If you'd like to learn conversational French, she teaches those classes at the Downtown Oklahoma City Library.

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