Figure skater glides to silver at 2025 Rising Stars Skating Competition

Holly Elston (10) from Brescia House School, clinched second place at the SA Figure Skating Association – Central Gauteng Rising Stars Competition 2025, held at Forest Hill Ice Rink in Centurion on July 27.

Stepping up from last year’s third-place finish, Holly’s latest performance reflects both her growth as a skater and her unwavering commitment to the sport she loves.

“It felt wonderful,” she said. “I was very proud of myself. In the last Rising Stars, I placed third, so I am very happy to have improved.”

This year, Holly moved up to the U12 category, no small feat for a 10-year-old. Her skating journey began just before her fifth birthday, when her parents signed her up for the Learn to Skate Academy at Northgate Ice Rink. From the very first lesson, she was hooked.

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Now, five years later, she continues to balance her academics, extracurricular activities, and skating. “It is sometimes quite hard to do, but I love skating, so I do my best to fit it all in. I usually try to do my schoolwork earlier in the week, so I can manage the practices and competitions.”

When she’s not skating, Holly keeps herself busy with other interests. “I love drawing, hockey, reading, dancing, playing piano, and spending time with my family and friends.” And if she ever takes a break from skating, Holly already has a list of other passions she’d like to explore. “I’d love to try ice hockey, speed skating, and volleyball. And I would love to take special art classes to improve my drawing skills.”

Training for competitions, like Rising Stars, takes months of preparation. Holly worked closely with national figure skating coach Taryn Nicholls to select music and choreograph new sequences. “It takes a few months to put a new programme together. I practice one to two days a week, sometimes more when preparing for a competition.

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“My coach always tells me to never give up, and to keep my head held high. She is always supportive of my skating. Her motto is: ‘Everyone falls… All that matters is that you get back up again and never give up on your dream. Believe in yourself. Your feet can learn the steps, but only your heart can skate them… Have fun and love what you do… Always’.”
Holly’s hard work paid off, especially during her upright spins and spirals, two of her favourite moves. “They take a lot of practice, so, it’s great when they finally work.”

Despite her strong routine, the competition was not without its challenges. “I was the first to skate, opening the competition. That put a lot of pressure on me, but I pushed through. It was also held on a Sunday night, and ended quite late, so Monday was a tough day at school.”

When the days get tough, Holly just tells herself that she can do anything she sets her mind to. “Mostly, I find it hard when I am tired from a long school day, but I love skating, so it’s worth it.”

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Holly credits much of her success to the unwavering support of her family. “They’ve picked me up when I’ve fallen, both on the ice and in my confidence. My parents take me to every practice, wait for me to finish, and make sure I have the right skates, outfits, and everything I need.”

While she does not follow many professional figure skaters, Holly looks up to her coach, who has helped her love of skating grow, as a role model, and she has her eyes set firmly on the future. “I would love to skate in the SA National Figure Skating Championships, and be the best skater I can be. I would also love to go to the Winter Olympics, even though I know that’s really hard to accomplish.”

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