Kincardine figure skater wins bronze at Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria

Rosie Laidler of Kincardine is proud of the bronze medal she won in her Level 5 freeskate at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria, last month.

She's also delighted with the gold medal she won in dance, but not on the ice. This time, the 33-year-old figure skater was on dry land, dancing with a group in a demonstration sport for Special Olympics.

This is the second time that dance has been presented as a demonstration sport at Special Olympics, said Rosie's mom, Joy. “There were two Canadian teams with all Special Olympics athletes, and some United States teams with a mix of Special Olympics and regular athletes. It was wonderful to watch and then Rosie's team won gold; that was terrific.”

For Rosie, however, the highlight was completing the elements and the solo program in the Level 5 freeskate, and winning bronze; with Team Canada teammate Adeline Bailey-Lopes winning gold, and Nadezhda Merkulova of Russia winning silver. There were 100 athletes representing Canada, including 18 figure skaters.

This was Rosie's second time attending a world games, having competed in Anchorage, Alaska, 16 years ago and winning gold in Level 3 ice dance, and silver in Level 3 freeksate.

The levels are based on ability, said Joy, and there is only Level 1-4 for ice dancing.

Besides winning bronze, Rosie was thrilled to have a dozen members of her family on hand to watch her skate. Her parents, Ray and Joy, were there, along with her sister, Megan and her husband, Jesse, and their children, Aaliyah and Keagan; her uncle and aunt, David and Jill Ewing; aunt and uncle, Diane and StJohn Evans; and her cousin and husband, Lizzie and Paul Holmes.

“She had quite a lot of support,” said Joy, “because it was in Europe and many of our relatives still live there.” They also watched the speed-skating and floor hockey (similar to ringette) competitions.

Rosie said Austria is a beautiful place, but the food there is different. “I tried schnitzel and it tasted like chicken.”

It was sunny and warm, with temperatures ranging from 15-20 degrees Celsius, she said, and then when they returned to Ontario, it was cold and rainy.

While her cheering section enjoyed touring Vienna and Graz (two hours southwest of Vienna where the worlds were being held) and some of the sights in between, Rosie was lodged at the Athletes Village, and her focus was on the competition.

“I felt really confident after I completed the compulsory elements portion (March 20),” said Rosie, “and then I felt great doing my solo program (March 23). I did very well and I was so happy. It was such a thrill to stand on the podium with the other skaters.”



This video, courtesy of the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria, features Rosie Laidler's solo program performance, beginning at the 11:40 mark

Rosie thanks her coach Lorilee Nelson for preparing her so well for the competition at the worlds, and to Cody Owens at Magnum Fitness for helping her with fitness training.

In figure skating, Team Canada won 22 medals out of a potential 23, said Joy, and the athletes won three medals in the dancing demonstration.

Back home in her apartment, Rosie said she has to maintain her training because she has been invited to skate at the Margaret Garniss Memorial Gala, May 13, in Brampton. This event welcomes Team Canada Special Olympics skaters from Central Ontario.

She also plans to compete in the Special Olympics summer sports of track-and-field and bocce.

Rosie continues to work at Gordon Pharmasave in downtown Kincardine where she has been employed for the past 13 years. She also volunteers at Trillium Court Seniors' Community in Kincardine.

A member of the Kincardine and Ripley-Huron skating clubs, she won gold medals in dance and freeskate at the nationals in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, in March, 2016, making her eligible for Team Canada and the worlds.