Elladj Balde's emotional journey to Africa

Violet Bliss · Mar 1, 2015

This story and picture are so touching I want to bring it out of the FrenchieSkate thread.

golden411 said:
Elladj Balde has just posted a photo of himself in Africa ... where he traveled to meet his dying 99-year-old grandfather for the first time.

https://instagram.com/p/znePHLJcvf/

Wow. The photo and Elladj's emotional msg bring tears to my eyes. Elladj was named after his grandfather, ElHadj Mamadou Oury Baldé.

Best to the entire Balde family.

BounceAround · Mar 2, 2015

Thanks for sharing this. It's a very moving and intimate photo.

GF2445 · Mar 2, 2015

That was such a beautiful moment that he shared with us.

ice coverage · Mar 4, 2015

Elladj has shared another amazing family photo from his trip to Africa:

@blade901

Fouta Djallon
A mother hugging her son after 15 years. No need to say that the tears were flowing abundantly.
https://instagram.com/p/zvN8Evpcn0/ (Mar 2)

Sasha'sSpins · Mar 5, 2015

That was deeply moving. Wow, Elladj's grandfather must've been up there in years when Elladj's dad was born. At 99 he would have been old enough to be Elladj's GREATgrandfather!

begin · Mar 5, 2015

Thank you for sharing, that's such a amazing photo and touching story.

cheerknithanson · Mar 6, 2015

Flaya said:
I was checking on this website, but they did not list if a country is provisional or not. http://www.isu.org/en/about-isu/member-federations?page=2

Although it would make sense as there are clearly no national championships in there.

Having said that, Grenada, Indonesia, Cyprus, Morocco, etc were able to send skaters to international events. The Grenadian girl competed at World Juniors in 2011, if I am not mistaken. So, Elladj for Guinea seems to be completely doable.

Can you please respect @golden411 's wish please and make another thread on this matter?

Anyways, I think this is really moving on what Elladj did. Makes me now have huge respect for him. Fulfilling his grandfather's wish and travel to the country where some of his relatives are from.

Violet Bliss · Mar 6, 2015

Flaya said:
Golden, I do not mean to be rude. But if you do not like a subject, you simply read another one.

But Golden likes the subject which s/he brought to our attention so s/he asked that you simply start another thread if you want to change the subject of discussion.

Mrs. P · Mar 6, 2015

Please feel free to discuss alternative countries in this thread: http://goldenskate.com/forum/showthread.php?54516-Alternative-countries-for-skaters-pt-2

I have moved all posts to that thread here.

You can continue to talk about Elladj Balde's family roots here. Thanks!

Flaya · Mar 6, 2015

SkateFiguring said:
But Golden likes the subject which s/he brought to our attention so s/he asked that you simply start another thread if you want to change the subject of discussion.

Oh ok. I am getting it now. He/she wanted to discuss us in a different thread due to emotional feelings she/he felt towards that visit!

No problem, I will.

ice coverage · Mar 6, 2015

Many thanks to Flaya, Mrs. P, and to everyone else for your understanding and support.

:thumbsup:

Alchamei · Mar 7, 2015

I'm very moved by that. Great for him to come back where his roots come from.

ice coverage · Mar 7, 2015

Photo #3 from Elladj:

blade901
Noussy

The first formal school that my father was privileged to attend from year one to six.
https://instagram.com/p/z8hIErJcku/ (Mar 7)

SkateFiguring, I realized that I have been remiss in not thanking you earlier for starting this thread.
Thank you very much. Sorry for not saying so earlier.

Violet Bliss · Mar 7, 2015

golden411 said:
Photo #3 from Elladj:

blade901
Noussy

The first formal school that my father was privileged to attend from year one to six.
https://instagram.com/p/z8hIErJcku/ (Mar 7)

SkateFiguring, I realized that I have been remiss in not thanking you earlier for starting this thread.
Thank you very much. Sorry for not saying so earlier.

I thank you for bringing it to us to start with and hoped that you didn't mind me bringing it out into a new thread for a wider readership because I found it very touching.

ice coverage · Mar 10, 2015

Photo #4 from Elladj

:

blade901
· Fétéré Soungala

Spending some precious moments in places that are simply breathtaking with the man I hope to be one day. This is the beautiful place that father grew up in. He Spent his whole childhood in a village built on the top of a mountain. This was his favorite place to come to enjoy the view. Being able to come here and witness this landscape with my own eyes is priceless. - Father Son Time -
https://instagram.com/p/0EHZ6cJcoS/ (Mar 10)

ice coverage · Mar 17, 2015

Wonderful article (get your tissues ready

:yes

+ new photo:

The Inside Edge: Emotional Baldé meets grandpa
Canadian skater reflects on 'intense' trip to Guinea to see father's family

Posted 3/17/15
by Sarah S. Brannen, special to icenetwork
http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2015/03/17/113021566

ETA:

Yet another new photo via @SarahandDrew:

And @elladjbalde helping his grandfather Elhadj Balde on the way to the mosque.
9:58 AM - 17 Mar 2015
https://twitter.com/SarahandDrew/status/577876776929640448

And now Elladj has posted the same photo with this comment:

Tombon
Helping my 99 year old Grandfather walk to the mosque that he built himself many many years ago.
https://instagram.com/p/0V7tNupcmT/ (Mar 17)

Violet Bliss · Mar 17, 2015

Thank you Golden for bring this story and updating it for us.

The emotions of meeting his grandpa and family were intense as I've imagined but the whole journey and experience is actually life changing for Elladj. I am happy for him and hope he meets the challenge of the inspiration from this precious life experience. It is often hard to fathom one's life path until it shows itself.

All my best, Elladj.

cheerknithanson · Mar 17, 2015

SkateFiguring said:
Thank you Golden for bring this story and updating it for us.

The emotions of meeting his grandpa and family were intense as I've imagined but the whole journey and experience is actually life changing for Elladj. I am happy for him and hope he meets the challenge of the inspiration from this precious life experience. It is often hard to fathom one's life path until it shows itself.

All my best, Elladj.

It makes me have SO much respect for him now.

Elladj Balde's emotional journey to Africa

Violet Bliss

BounceAround

GF2445

ice coverage

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Sasha'sSpins

begin

cheerknithanson

Violet Bliss

Mrs. P

Uno, Dos, twizzle!

Flaya

Match Penalty

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Alchamei

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Violet Bliss

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