For the first time in a decade, South African ice dancers Mikhail Ajam (19) and Felicity Chase (15) represented South Africa at the Junior Grand Prix (JGP) in Bangkok, Thailand.
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They are also the only South Africans chosen by the South African Figure Skating Association to compete in the Budapest JGP. Ajam started skating at the age of eight, initially to play ice hockey. However, the allure of figure skating was strong, and it has been his sport of choice ever since.
IOL reports that the sports science student has competed as a solo figure skater, as part of a synchronised skating team, and as the male half of an ice dance couple. ‘I am immensely honoured that we’ve been selected to represent our country at the Junior Grand Prix,’ he says. ‘We’ve trained for so long for this opportunity to compete against the best in the world and we’re working overtime with our coach to prepare.’
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Coach Tiana Stanton says the two skaters underwent intense training. ‘They have increased their ice time and lessons to include additional edge and power workouts over and above all the technical ice dance choreography that they have mastered. These are two very dedicated and hard-working athletes who are very deserving of our support.’
According to IOL, ice skating is a niche sport in South Africa, with no official financial assistance available. Skaters are responsible for their own costs. To this end, they launched a fundraising campaign to cover their trips to Thailand and Hungary.
Watch their performance here:
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