Lisle skater medals at Masters World Masters Games

Lisle figure skater Selina Tombs has returned from the 2020 Winter World Masters Games with two medals.
Tombs, 47, won a silver in the masters ladies freeskate and a bronze in masters ladies artistic at the games, which took place in Innsbruck, Austria from Jan. 11-19. The three-minute and 10-second freeskate routine, skated to Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, is more about the technical components, including a number of spins and double jumps. The two-minute artistic routine, skated to James Bond’s Golden Eye, is more of an artistic expression of music.
The masters level is the second highest level of competition, under the category for former national level competitive skaters.
There is no qualifier, but there is a limited registration. Tombs said she woke up at 3 a.m. in order to ensure she got in on the online registration back in January 2019 and she was glad she did because the demand was high.
“There was such an overwhelming response, it was full within a few hours,” said Tombs. “They did open up another day of competition because of the great demand… It still sold out right away.”
The competition is overseen by the International Skaters Union, governed by the The International Masters Games Association, and recognized by the International Olympic Committee.
This is the first time figure skating has been included in the Masters World Winter Games and skaters over the age of 28 were eligible to compete.
“It was very special for the figure skating community because we have never had an opportunity to participate in the masters games,” said Tombs.
She said Canada had the largest group of competitors across all the figure skating disciplines at the games – men’s singles, ladies’ singles, pair skating, ice dance and synchronised skating.
We had a really great group. They were very supportive,” said Tombs.
Tombs was a competitive skater in her youth, and through university until 2000. She returned to the sport in 2016, winning The Skate Canada Adult National Figure Skating Championships. The Lisle resident trains at Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie.
The Winter World Masters Games is held every four years. The next one will take place in Japan in 2024.