Thanks
@CaroLiza_fan for covering this event. I know about it because there have been reports about Vilma Mellegård in Swedish media(she is also recognized because of stroke among children).
You're welcome!
I'm actually in a similar position in that I knew about it because of reports about Teddy being on the TV. She is autistic, and skating helps her confidence.
I actually started a thread last year when BBC Northern Ireland did a feature about her. And since then, she has been featured in the national media too. There are links to the videos in the thread:
https://www.goldenskate.com/forum/threads/92517/
I think you can watch this from Swedish television:
https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/h...-sjuaring-nu-i-varldstoppen-i-parakonstakning
Vilma: ”I couldn't talk, I couldn't walk, I couldn't do anything.
Vilma had a heart virus that led to a stroke when she was seven. She couldn’t talk, walk or stand up but was insistent on heading back to the rink where she started skating as a four years old. Though many grownups didn’t think it would be possible she made it with hard work and help from her club.
"I believed in my self because if you don't you don't get anywhere."
Her mom says it’s magical to watch what she can do on the ice. Off ice she can’t jump on one leg or hold her balance on her right leg.
"I feel happy and free. My goal is to jump an axel and be ranked as number one in inclusive skating.”
She is thirteen now.
Wow! Seeing Vilma on the ice, I would never have imagined that she was coming back from not being able to walk or even stand up.
At the same time, I am not surprised to find out that she started skating at such a young age. Because she is a brilliant skater. I am so glad that she was able to return to the ice after her stroke. Because she is a real natural.
Interesting that Vilma and Teddy will do a duet together on Friday. I wonder how and when they decided to team up.
Yeah, it doesn't seem ideal logistically for a schoolgirl from Sweden to partner up with a schoolgirl from Northern Ireland. But, it totally makes sense based on their level of skating. No doubt about it, these two girls have been the stand out skaters in terms of ability. And given how young they are, they are definitely promising prospects for the future.
I would love to see them get a shot at elite level skating. Because they could ruffle a few feathers.
I see various age groups, disciplines and levels. I don’t get the rules exactly or the judging, but fun to watch all the same.
Same here. I haven't a clue how the judging works either. But, hey, I don't have much of an idea about the judging of the skating we normally watch either!
Wish there were better film- and sound quality.
Yeah, the filming is a disappointment, as the camera does not zoom in on the skaters or follow the skaters around the rink. But, to be honest, I wasn't expecting there to be a stream. So, I'm grateful that we are getting to see it at all.
This rink seems to be used primarily for curling. And the mirror positioned above the targets to allow team members and spectators to see what is happening is proving to be very useful for when the skaters are down at the far end of the rink. To the extent that I am thinking that that is something that should be added to more rinks. Although, I can imagine the mirror getting broken very quickly if it was installed at a rink where ice hockey is played!
As for the sound, I remember Teddy saying in one of the TV features I saw about her that the disabilities that some of the skaters have means that they cannot cope with loud noises. And as a result, they have to skate without music, or with music that is not very loud. So, it may actually be deliberate that the sound quality at this event is not as good as we are used to.
Lovely... and I immediately got pictures in my head of certain top skaters... their coaches hitting the ice to give them courage after nasty falls
After seeing that coach coming out to help, it started me thinking about the elite skating scene, and how we never see anything like that happening there. And it made me sad. Of course, this is a specialist event for disabled people, and as such there are rules to allow for coaches helping skaters with their programmes. In this case, the coach initially came out to help his skater to get up but, by the time he arrived, she had already managed it herself.
I'm sure that this is against the rules in elite level skating. But, it would be a nice if it was allowed. Just think of Anna Pogorilaya and all her scary falls. Wouldn't it have been lovely to see Anna Tsareva going out and helping her? It would certainly have shone Tsareva in a totally different light amongst us fans.
All in all, I am really enjoying this event. And enjoing seeing the obvious love of skating that these people have. And how they are able to do it despite their issues.
CaroLiza_fan
Maybe they teamed up here during practices.
