Six athletes from the Richmond Connaught Skating Club have snagged a spot for the upcoming 2023 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships.
The Canadian Figure Skating Championships is being held at the Tribute Communities Centre in Oshawa, Ont. from Jan. 9 to 15, 2023.
Amy Shao Ning Yang and Angelina Guan are two of the six athletes preparing for the nationals taking place next month.
Yang won silver in the senior ladies category of the Skate Canada Challenge earlier this month.
She highlighted that her "two really good performances" allowed her to qualify for the nationals, and she is making it her goal to do the same at the Canadian championships.
Despite having joined the Connaught Skating Club this year, Yang said that "consistent training" has been a key factor in her success in qualifying for nationals.
"I'm looking forward to being there (at the championships) and performing against all these strong competitors who I look up to," said Yang.
Guan, who placed sixth in the junior ladies category of the Skate Canada Challenge, said she is excited to have qualified for the national championships this year.
However, Guan said she felt a "very different energy" from other skaters on the ice at the Skate Canada Challenge.
"I saw how the skaters trained very intensely and ... I want to make myself like that too," said Guan.
"Keeping a positive mindset throughout training while working really hard has helped me qualified for the championships and I hope to keep that up for the nationals."
She added that the support from her parents and coaches have supported her mentally and physically.
Last year, Guan competed in the novice category of the championships.
The Richmond Connaught Skating Club athletes and the categories they are competing in in the Canadian championships are:
- Amy Shao Ning Yang - Senior Ladies
- Wesley Chiu - Senior Men
- Gabriel Blumenthal - Senior Men
- Angelina Guan - Junior Ladies
- David Li - Junior Men
- Neo Tran - Junior Men
