Skating takes this competitor to her happy place

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/10/2017 (3239 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Robyn Ward is a 13-year-old Grade 8 student who carries herself with remarkable grace.
Exceptionally well spoken and thoughtful, Robyn attends Arthur A. Leach Junior High and is one heck of a student.

“I really like math, drama, and ELA. In ELA I am writing my own book,” she says.  “It’s a book about figure skating. School is something I think I excel at.”

Robyn isn’t speaking out of turn, either — her average last year was 98 per cent.

As she implies with the subject of her book project, figure skating is another passion for Robyn.
“I’ve been figure skating since I was two or three years old. I started competing when I was four. I like how free I feel on the ice. It fills my heart with joy,” she says.

“If I’ve had a rough day, once I get on the ice I’m in my happy place.”

Robyn skates for the Century Figure Skating Club at Century Arena.

“It’s one of the smaller clubs but I’m surrounded by a lot of good friends and good people,” she says. “My two coaches, Carolyn Hysop and Carolyn Cameron, are very supportive. They are both almost as close to me as family.”

Robyn does her fair share of travelling to compete and really enjoys the spirit of competition.

“Recently I was in Edmonton for a competition called the Wild Rose, and this weekend I’m in Regina for the Sask Skate competition,” she says.

All this work is in preparation for the 2018 Skate Canada Manitoba Sectional Championships in Virden, Man. on Nov. 4 and 5.

“One of my goals is to make the Manitoba high performance team,” she says. “Right now I am with the developmental performance team. Further in the future, I would like to skate at the nationals or in the Olympics.”

Robyn and her family — mom Allison, dad Rob and sister Rebecca — call Island Lakes home and Robyn says she is incredibly thankful for her family.

Robyn offers this advice to young athletes on how to accomplish their goals:

“Always try your best. If you set your mind to something you will achieve it. Always push yourself. Good things will come if you are pursuing goals.”  

Former Winnipeg Blue Bombers kicker Troy Westwood is co-host of The Big Show, every weekday morning from 6 to 10 a.m. on TSN 1290 radio. He writes about Winnipeg’s unsung sports heroes every other week in the Canstar Community News weeklies. If you know of an athlete whose story Troy should tell, contact him at: troy.westwood@bellmedia.ca