A talented figure skater from Ayrshire has told how the 30th anniversary of her Winter Olympics appearance feels just like yesterday.
Suzanne Otterson, from Ayr, was just 17 when she took to the ice for Great Britain during the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France.
Suzanne, now 47, recalled: “It really does feel like yesterday, especially after watching the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.
“It’s amazing how the memories come flooding back. From watching the opening ceremony, to the excitement of getting your kit and I’m so glad I can remember it so vividly.”
Suzanne’s long journey to GB selection, then Winter Olympics stardom, began when she first took to the ice at Ayr Ice Rink, aged four.
Suzanne’s first big win came in 1986, when she won the British Primary Championships, aged 12. Two years later she finished third in the British Junior Championships. Two years after that, she was crowned champion.
That championship win enabled Suzanne to represent GB at the World Junior Championships at Colorado Springs.
Then Suzanne progressed to the British Senior events, taking 4th, then 3rd places as her rise continued- and she finally secured her GB place for the 1992 Winter Olympics, where she finished in the top 22.
Suzanne described the build-up and said: “We didn’t have ice to train on during the week in Ayr so we had to go to the St Enoch Centre, Glasgow, to train. The Scottish Skating Association allowed us to train there. We did that every morning- before school! I was still in 5th year at the time, but thankfully the school allowed me to come in later so I could train.
“When I was told I was selected I was absolutely delighted. In Albertville I put everything into my performances. I had such a fun time, it was great, a mind blowing experience.”
Suzanne’s come full circle. She’s back at her former primary school (Heathfield PS) as an assistant, and she’s also teaching what she hopes will one day be the next generation of GB Winter Olympic stars.
Suzanne is one of the coaches at Kyle Figure Skating Club.
In fact, local figure skating hit the headlines recently, when Prestwick’s Lewis Gibson and his ice partner Lilah Fear skated to tenth place at the Beijing Winter Olympics.
And Suzanne, who also carried the Olympic torch through Alloway in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympic Games, was delighted to see the Ayrshire athlete make his mark on the Olympic stage- just like she did.
Figure skating runs in Suzanne’s family.
Older sister Gillian, a former British Primary and Junior star, also coaches alongside Suzanne.
And Suzanne’s two children Lewis, 10 and Carla 7, also skate.
Lewis finished 3rd in the British Basic Novice Championships in November, while Gillian’s daughter Isla is also approaching British Basic Novice level.
If you want to find out more about Kyle Figure Skating Club, e-mail Rosemary Otterson at rotterson@hotmail.co.uk or PM them on Facebook, or Instagram.
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