Star on ice

This potential ice-skating star is not pivoting in one spot; she is about to do a triple jump into the list of Hong Kong’s top female skaters. . .

By Winkie Tang

For a budding ice rink ballerina, balance is more than just staying on one’s feet. It also involves balancing one’s professional promise, school and social commitments.

Phyllis Lee, 10, has practised ice-skating for 5 years.

“I started to learn ice-skating when I was 2 years old. I just sat on a little chair to learn ice skating at that time,” said Phyllis.

Phyllis usually practises skating three times a week, 3 to 4 hours each time.

It is no easy job for a Primary 5 student to handle both schoolwork and training. Yet Phyllis thinks she has good enough time management skills to strike a balance.

“My academic performance is above average. I’m satisfied with it,” Phyllis said, exchanging a smile with her mother.

Though training and school work occupy much of her time, she still acts as one of the anchors in Kids Click, a kids’ television programme.

This is because of her mother, who discovered her acting talents.

“I loved looking in the mirror and talking to myself when I was small.

“My mother noticed that and took me to an interview for the television programme.Then I became an anchor.”

Phyllis said that the taping of the show on Saturdays and Sundays takes less than an hour.

So this does not affect her studies much.

Rather, she finds it interesting and enjoyable.

Phyllis has devoted herself to many activities, but she still ranks ice-skating first.

“The sensation of speed is exciting. It seems that I am going beyond all limits, and I enjoy it very much.”

The young skater’s gift is evident from prizes she has won in various competitions.

“I enjoy every moment of the competitions.”

Phyllis has participated in both local and international contests.

The one she remembers most was in Malaysia in August 1999.

She got the championship.

“Just like every contestant, I am extremely nervous before my turn.

“With all the tough training, I do not want to let my coaches and family down,” said she.

The applause and flowers thrown to her by the audiences make everything worthwhile.

Behind her success, Phyllis has borne the pains of injury, just like every sports figure.

“I’m always getting blisters on my feet.

“The most serious injury I experienced was an arm sprain,” said she.

Phyllis knows that if she wants to be successful, she must not fear pain and must work hard.

Mr. Bryan Chan, Phyllis’s coach, said this is the thing he looks for in a skater.

“I have great expectations for Phyllis,” said Mr. Chan.

Great expectations from her coach do not create tension between them.

Rather, they have a friendly relationship.

“I think my coach and I are a perfect match. We are just like friends,” said Phyllis.

Mr. Chan values Phyllis’s serious attitude, toughness and courage as vital factors that made her a top local female ice skater in just 1 or 2 years.

This target is, however, not in accord with Phyllis’s.

To her, participation in competitions, especially international ones, are extremely challenging.

This is because usually overseas contestants are more skilful than she, while the local contestants are mostly her skating fellows. They have more or less the same level of skills.

But the little girl’s secret dream is to be an ice-skating performer, performing all over the world.

Mr. Chan said that both of them were sometimes hot-tempered.

“When Phyllis cannot fulfil my requirements, both of us can be very impatient.

“But of course, I try my best to calm down first, and fine tune Phyllis’s temper,” said Mr. Chan.

Mrs. Lee, Phyllis’s mother, said she never forced Phyllis to become a professional skater.

“It is more important for us to teach her how to make a right choice rather than to make the choice for her.

“We feel glad to see her doing what she likes to,” said Mrs. Lee.

To Mrs. Lee, Phyllis possesses some kind of charm when she skates.

Just like any mother does, she sometimes unconsciously looks for pretty clothes and nice music for Phyllis’s performances.

Even Phyllis’s younger brother has been influenced by his sister, and he urged his mother to let him learn ice-skating.

There have been times when Phyllis has wanted to give up ice-skating.

“Sometimes I ask myself why I still continue to skate when the training is so tough and painful.

“But I know I would definitely regret if I quit.

“No pain, no gain,” said Phyllis.

While Phyllis regards her injuries as inevitable, the pain is felt by her parents as well.

But Mrs. Lee said that she knew that nothing could stop her daughter from skating.

And the pain was relieved when she saw Phyllis’s success.

“I remembered last time, in a competition, I actually screamed when I saw her perform a jump successfully,” Mrs. Lee said.

In fact, the young skater also has great expectations of herself.

Maybe that is why she became a fan of Tara Lipinski, the gold medallist in an ice-skating event in the 1998 Olympic Games.

“She was only 14 at that time,” said Phyllis in wonder, with her eyes wide open.

Perhaps in 4 years, this 10-year-old girl, who always wipes the ice off the blades of her skate shoes with great care, might expereience similar achievements.