ZACH Andrew Morgan, a figure skater from The Bluff, recently secured a gold medal at the Gauteng Inter-Provincial Figure Skating Championships in Pretoria. With an axel, toe loop and flip, Zach formed part of a 10-member team representing KZN, marking a significant moment as the province returned to national figure skating competitions after a hiatus of six years.

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KZN show out

Jo Cossavella, who chairs the KZN division of the South African Figure Skating Association (SAFSA KZN), said the team’s return is both impressive and a positive sign for the sport’s development in the region.

The championships, conducted under the guidelines by the International Skating Union, gathered talented skaters from across South Africa, featuring competitors in both development and championship divisions. Despite the intense level of competition and the time the KZN team had spent away from the national scene, the athletes delivered performances that reflected commendable skill and preparation.

Zach competed in the Competitive Gold Men Singles Over-12 division. Even though he had no direct rivals in his category, he was still required to fulfil a full set of technical criteria, which he accomplished successfully.

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Journey to figure skating

Zach’s introduction to figure skating is rather an emotional journey. Two years ago, during a difficult period involving a serious illness of his close cousin, his mother Stacey and his aunt Nadia introduced him to ice skating as a form of coping and distraction. What began as a simple family outing gradually evolved into a blossoming passion.

He soon came across a poster advertising a local skating club and decided to join, a choice that marked the beginning of a dedicated path in the sport.

Zach said the highlight of figure skating to him is the artistic freedom it allows. “When I skate, I feel able to express myself fully and communicate emotions through my movements on the ice. The opportunity to combine sport with artistic performance is my favourite aspect of skating,” said Zach.

Looking forward, Zach aims to compete in events sanctioned by the International Skating Union and has set his ultimate goal on representing SA at the Olympic Games. He draws motivation from the international figure skating champion Kamila Valieva, aspiring to reach similar heights. Throughout his development, Zach has acknowledged the unwavering support from his coach, Dantin Broderyk, and from his parents, Stacey and Zane Morgan, whose encouragement has been crucial.

While Zach was able to represent the KZN banner proudly in the recent competition, he has moved and will now skate under the Gauteng team. Cossavella said that she is upset to see Zach go but wishes him all the best in his future endeavours.

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