It was a week of stellar skating at the 2024 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Columbus, Ohio. Novice and junior skaters kicked off the week’s competitions.
Ice dancers Anaelle Kouevi and Yann Homawoo, first cousins who train in Virginia, earned the bronze medal in novice dance, the first time a Black team has been on the podium since Tiffani Tucker and Franklyn Singley in 1993. Their parents said it was emotional to see them on such a big stage.
“It was surreal; I didn’t think we would be here that fast,” said Kouevi, who eased her nerves by focusing on performing and embodying a character. “It was really exciting to compete on that ice and be able to show everybody what we’ve been spending basically the entire season preparing for. Even making it [to Nationals] was a dream come true.”
Homawoo said he focused on doing what he was trained to do. Standing on the podium was exciting, but left them wanting more. “We were there with the top skaters in the country,” said Homawoo. “Equaling the record was inspiring, but in the back of my head, I also wanted to break the record.”
Kouevi, Homawoo, and their coaches will study videos of their performances and work to be even stronger next season. For now, they’re enjoying the stuffed animals given to them by fans. Three other Black skaters also competed last week. Junior ice dancer Kristina Bland finished in sixth place with partner Matthew Sperry. In the senior women’s event, veteran competitor Starr Andrews finished sixth, receiving a standing ovation for her free skate. Mark Sadusky and partner Nica Digerness finished seventh in senior pairs.
Throughout the week, U.S. Figure Skating made an effort to create an inclusive environment. Skaters from Figure Skating in Harlem were invited to skate in Sunday’s exhibition. There was also a diversity, equity, and inclusion forum at the Lincoln Theatre in Columbus, attended by skating choreographer and former competitor Joy Thomas, who has done some work with the team at Howard University.
“People shared their personal experiences and stories of not being embraced in the sport,” said Thomas, who infuses Black culture into programs through deliberate musical choices. “Also, there were discussions of what the next steps should be to make skating more inclusive.”