How did you get started in figure skating?
I started skating when I was 12 years old. I saw the movie Ice Princess and immediately fell in love with it. I loved the idea of it being an art and a sport. For the first three to four years I just went to the rink once a week on a Thursday because it was ladies' day, but after that my training slowly got more and more intense. I love everything about skating – when I skate I forget about everything, it's just me and the ice. I prefer jumps over spins because the feeling of jumping is like flying and it's a great feeling when you land.
____________________________________________________________
A recipe for well-being: What's inside
____________________________________________________________
What have been your greatest achievements in figure skating?
I’ve had great opportunities in the past few years that I’m very grateful for. Although I haven’t had the best season this year because of injuries, I ended it well at the Fatima Bint Mubarak Academy Trophy at Zayed Sports City (April 3-4), the first International Skating Union competition in the UAE. I got my best scores yet, which was my goal, so I’m very happy about that and to do it at my home rink is the cherry on top. The FBMA Trophy is a great event that allows people to know more about the sport and to see other high-level skaters. It motivates younger skaters to work harder to reach their goals and dreams. Figure skating is growing and will continue to grow in the UAE.
What advice do you have for people who would like to start figure skating?
The most important thing is to enjoy it – if you love it then you will succeed. You can take lessons at Zayed Sports City ice rink, in Abu Dhabi. As for the cost, it depends on how many lessons you want to take per week. I do about six hours of training six days a week, so it is expensive for me, but I’m so thankful for my sponsors, Fatima Bint Mubarak Academy.
atomlinson@thenational.ae