Trailblazers and Firsts: the Stuggle is real (a Fan Fest) | Golden Skate

Trailblazers and Firsts: the Stuggle is real (a Fan Fest)

Layback11

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 18, 2014
With the 2015 JGP Bratislava happening this week, a lot of promising skaters from tiny federations were brought to our attention, some of them the first skaters to represent their country at an ISU event. Of those firsts, two stand out to me:

Malika Sharshenbaeva, the first Kyrgyzstani skater at an ISU event, who dubstepped her way into our hearts last week: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JAM3IVSsOI

And Denis Margalik, the men's bronze medalist, who hails from the last place you'd ever expect to produce a skater (although he lives and trains in Canada): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6YLZ38FwAY

But, of course, these aren't even a fraction of the skaters who were the first from their countries. (Remember the Moroccan girl last year whose name I forgot?) This thread is intended to be a celebration of the skaters who were the first to represent their country at an ISU event. So tell the world about your favorite skating trailblazers!


We know a potential favorite is out there, waiting to be discovered.
So go and find them.
Just dooooo it.




A public service announcement courtesy of Malika Sharshenbaeva.
 
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cathlen

Team Gorgeous Cacti!
Record Breaker
Joined
May 2, 2015
Country
Poland
This is so awesome idea! I officialy love you for this :love: I call all these skaters "exotic" for lack of the better word. They definitely needs some love & support from fans :) I'm a big one of Denis! Hope to see him more this season! And Khirgiz (?) girl's program was very entertaining ^^
 

Layback11

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 18, 2014
This is so awesome idea! I officialy love you for this :love: I call all these skaters "exotic" for lack of the better word. They definitely needs some love & support from fans :) I'm a big one of Denis! Hope to see him more this season! And Khirgiz (?) girl's program was very entertaining ^^

Aww, thanks!

Yes, we here at The Struggle is Real do love us some Dubstep Girl. :laugh:
 

TheGrandSophy

Record Breaker
Joined
Apr 14, 2014
With the 2015 JGP Bratislava happening this week, a lot of promising skaters from tiny federations were brought to our attention, some of them the first skaters to represent their country at an ISU event. Of those firsts, two stand out to me:

Malika Sharshenbaeva, the first Kyrgyzstani skater at an ISU event, who dubstepped her way into our hearts last week: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JAM3IVSsOI

And Denis Margalik, the men's bronze medalist, who hails from the last place you'd ever expect to produce a skater (although he lives and trains in Canada): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6YLZ38FwAY

But, of course, these aren't even a fraction of the skaters who were the first from their countries. (Remember the Moroccan girl last year whose name I forgot?) This thread is intended to be a celebration of the skaters who were the first to represent their country at an ISU event. So tell the world about your favorite skating trailblazers!


We know a potential favorite is out there, waiting to be discovered.
So go and find them.
Just dooooo it.




A public service announcement courtesy of Malika Sharshenbaeva.

I loved Malika. She ran out of steam a bit and made some errors in the SP, but the first 2/3 were really fun.

I believe the Moroccan skater was Yasmina Elharim.
 

silverfoxes

Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 16, 2014
And Denis Margalik, the men's bronze medalist, who hails from the last place you'd ever expect to produce a skater (although he lives and trains in Canada): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6YLZ38FwAY

I wouldn't say Argentina is the last I'd expect...it's a well-developed country after all, and it does have a few ice rinks. There are plenty of countries that have none at all, or maybe just one or two in shopping malls. But (and I promise this is the last time I will mention this) it wouldn't have held back Denis in any case, since he spent his entire skating life in Canada, and used to represent Canada. I really like Denis and I'm always happy to see smaller feds being represented, but let's face it, it's a lot harder to become successful when you start out skating on crappy ice in a mall, like Michael Christian Martinez, for example, and/or physically living in countries that have no established skating tradition.

That said - congrats to Denis for procuring the first medal for Argentina at the JGP Bratislava. I hope my personal favorite Deniss will win a medal for Latvia next week. :)

BTW, has anyone seen this before? Indian pair skaters at the JGP Taipei, 2006

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSV0Ei8GlsU
 
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Layback11

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 18, 2014
I loved Malika. She ran out of steam a bit and made some errors in the SP, but the first 2/3 were really fun.

I believe the Moroccan skater was Yasmina Elharim.

I liked her, too. My dad really, really liked her (I can't say I'm surprised ;)). And yes, Yasmina was definitely the one I'm referring to.
 

MalAssada

Medalist
Joined
Jun 28, 2014
They are not the first, but they might be the first who are good: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHbgmjBSUO8

Karolina Calhoun (14 years old)
No jumps presentation in a mall this year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xluGPVucCWs
In 2013, US intermediate national champion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsGk3P4Q0UU

Giulia Flemming (12 years old) has just learned a 2Lz. Her relatives post her progress here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkHAQe02f7kucLw-j4S8y-Q/videos

Couldn't find the presentation of other girls for now. Will try later.
 

Layback11

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 18, 2014
They are not the first, but they might be the first who are good: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHbgmjBSUO8

Karolina Calhoun (14 years old)
No jumps presentation in a mall this year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xluGPVucCWs
In 2013, US intermediate national champion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsGk3P4Q0UU

Giulia Flemming (12 years old) has just learned a 2Lz. Her relatives post her progress here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkHAQe02f7kucLw-j4S8y-Q/videos

Couldn't find the presentation of other girls for now. Will try later.

Cool! What country do they represent? Argentina?
 

Weathergal

Medalist
Joined
May 25, 2014
I don't know if she was the first Turkish figure skater to skate internationally, but she was definitely the first figure skater to represent Turkey at an Olympics: Tuğba Karademir placed 21st at the 2006 Olympics and was Turkey's flag bearer at those games. She finished 10th at the 2007 European Championships and 24th at the 2010 Olympics.

Small documentary on her: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqRu0BbGwzE

Her 2007 Europeans SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYRhewxq2Sg
 

dorispulaski

Wicked Yankee Girl
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
Country
United-States
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MalAssada

Medalist
Joined
Jun 28, 2014
Darn, forgot to say the country: Brazil. By the way, they all live in the US, but were born here, except for Isadora Williams (first Brazilian figure skater to make it to the Olympics).
 
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