Isadora Williams, the main representant for winter sports in Brazil in the last decade, is hanging her skates by the end of this season. The figure skater wasn't able to secure a spot at the Beijing Olympic Games, to happen in February next year, and has decided to end her career. "I've competed in two olympic games and my dream of taking part in the Games twice has come true. Beijing would be kind of an extra thing, just for fun. It was never my actual goal to compete in 2022. Nevertheless, I trained a lot to qualify, but it just didn't happen. Now I have new dreams and I've set new goals" Isadora told us during a video call, directly from the United States.
(... I won't translate this part because it's just a basic recap of her career...)
But then the pandemic hit. "I wasn't able to train then. In the US the quarantine rules were very strict. The rink where I used to train in NJ was closed for six months. I didn't know at the time whether I'd be able to keep going, if there'd even be a skating season, there were no competitions happening. It was so weird." she said, juggling between English and Portuguese.
After growing as an athlete in Virginia, the Brazilian athlete moved to New Jersey for college. During the pandemic, however, she came back to her parents' house, and resumed skating only at the end of 2020. "It wasn't the same, you lose muscle, you lose rhythm. I don't want to give any excuses, but I was 24 already, it wasn't easy at all", explains the skater, who had to deal with a fracture on her foot.
In September, she competed at Nebelhorn Trophy, in Germany, the last Olympic qualifiers, as quite the underdog. After placing 32nd in the short program, she withdrew from the competition without skating at the free skating segment, then saying goodbye to any possibility of a Olympic qualification for Beijing.
Before retiring, Isadora will come to Brazil, in december, to compete at Nationals, which are happening at the rink built by the Brazilian Ice Sports Federation at a warehouse in São Paulo (Arena Ice Brasil). "What happened in Germany was disappointing, so I want to redeem myself. I don't want Nebelhorn Trophy to be my last competition. I want have a last great showing" says Isadora, who is still deciding if she will compete in March at the World Championship one last time.
As Williams is about to graduate, she intends to move to São Paulo in the near future and teach skating to young Brazilian athletes, passing on the knowledge of almost two decades at the US figure skating environment. As for her plans, she would work remotely for American clients, making money out of that job, but staying close to skating as she gives classes.
During the interview, she wasn't able to give names of any Brazilian boys or girls who can take her place at the international stage of the sport. "When I was at Canoas for the 2019 Nationals, I saw kids with potential, but it's so hard to tell because they eventually get injured or lose interest. It's difficult to talk about continuity. I hope other Brazilians, Brazilian-Americans, Brazilian-Canadians, Brazilians who live in Europe, wherever, are able to keep skating going on for our country."
www.uol.com.br
... a belated mention that his new partner this season for junior dance is Madeleine Gans.
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#sorrynotsorry
