GRAND FALLS-WINDSOR, NL – Members of the Sparkling Blades Figure Skating Club arrived at Windsor Stadium on Feb. 13 for a very special announcement.
With parents sitting in the stands, the young skaters listened intently as skater Hannah Sheehan took the mic and made the announcement everyone came to hear.
“We are here to announce that (Team Canada) member, Kaetlyn Osmond, will be the guest skater at our annual Sparkling Blades ice show,” announced 16-year-old Sheehan. Her announcement was quickly followed by loud shrieks and shrills from the other skaters.
Osmond, a figure skating sensation from this province, won Olympic gold in the team event at this year’s Pyeongchang Games and silver in the same event at the 2014 Games in Sochi.
She’s also captured medals at the World Figure Skating Championships, Grand Prix of Figure Skating and the ISU World Team Trophy event.
“It’s super exciting because Kaetlyn’s from here…it lets you know someone from here shot for the stars and made it,” said Sheehan following the announcement. “It’s going to be very exciting having her back in Newfoundland skating with our club again.”
Osmond performed in Grand Falls-Windsor in 2013. That year, she finished seventh at Four Continents, and eighth at the world championships.
Seventeen-year-old Olivia Legge was there in 2013 when Osmond performed, and she said there was plenty of fanfare and excitement back then, too.
“It was still really exciting because everyone knew she was an amazing skater back then,” said Legge. “She was new on the scene then, so because she is from Newfoundland and we had her here, it was a really cool experience.
“Having here come back for a second time is going to be incredible, especially since she’s been to the Olympics twice.”
For skater Jamie Powell, 17, this will be her last year competing and performing with the local figure skating club. This year’s ice show was going to be a special one for her considering it’s her last, but to have a two-time Olympic medalist there will make it even more special.
“It doesn’t get much better than that, it really doesn’t,” said Powell. “It’s amazing. She’s my idol. I just love her. She’s such a performer and puts on a great show for you. Not only can she land the jumps and do everything so well, she makes you want to watch her and want to see her skate. She’s also a really nice person, too.”
April 22 will be one figure skating fans should mark on the calendar, as it isn’t often someone with Osmond’s pedigree performs in small-town Newfoundland and Labrador.
According to the three skaters, Osmond also represents the fact that it doesn’t matter where a skater is from or how large their club is. If you work hard enough, anything can happen, and Osmond is a perfect example of that.
“She definitely inspires the young skaters, especially in small clubs like ours,” said Sheehan. “She’s won many awards in Newfoundland and Labrador, and I remember winning the same award as her at sectionals a few years ago. It’s so cool seeing my name up there with hers. It gives you hope.”
