First they competed at the B.C. Special Olympics Provincial Winter Games on the weekend in Kamloops.
Now Stephanie Divin, Matthew Lai, Eric Pahima and Emily Walzak find themselves skating on centre ice at Lakewood Dental Arena at the Canada Winter Games.
Not bad for Team B.C.'s Special Olympics figure skating squad that's competing amongst the top Special Olympians in the country this week in front of a hometown crowd.
"They're coming off a high of having a positive provincial Games and they're all feeling successful and really proud," said B.C. Special Olympics coach Jessica Chapelski on Tuesday. "They flew in Sunday and practiced Sunday afternoon. They're exhausted."
The B.C. athletes were selected by Special Olympics B.C. in November for the Canada Winter Games based on performance and previous competition.
All four of them bring unique qualities to the table, said Chapelski, who coaches at Vancouver Special Olympics.
Divin and Walzak skated in the Level 2 female elements on Tuesday.
Divin, 15, hails from Surrey and has skated for 13 years. Representing Czechoslovakia, her grandfather Karol Divin competed in Olympic Games in figure skating in 1956, 1960 and 1964. In 1960, he won the silver medal ahead of Canada's Donald Jackson.
"In the time I've worked with Stephanie, she's an unflappable athlete," said Chapelski. "She's a solid, very consistent, strong skater. And the few times I've coached her, her power has improved and she's a confident skater. She has skating in her genes."
After Tuesday's Level 2 elements event, Divin is the leader with 0.5 points, while JorDen Tyson of Alberta is in second place with a score of 1.0, followed by Julia Lyn Romualdi of Ontario in third place with a score of 1.5. The 24-year-old Walzak, from Victoria, is in fourth place with 2.0 points.
"Emily started off as a timid skater and a cautious skater," said Chapelski. "But going from the provincial Games, to here, she has so much more confidence and her power has improved. She gets really nervous, but now she has really conquered her nerves."
They compete in the free skate Thursday at 2:55 p.m.
Eighteen-year-old Pahima from Vancouver, and 23-year-old Lai from Richmond, are competing in the Level 2 male event. They completed their elements competition Monday and skate their free programs today at 12:50 p.m.
Going into today, Pahima leads the three-man field with 0.5 points, followed by the Yukon's Mike Sumner in second place with a score of 1.0 and Lai in third place with 1.5 points.
"I just want to do the best I can do and have a good time," said Pahima, who's skated for five years.
It's Lai's second Canada Winter Games, having competed in Halifax in 2011. He's a 10-year veteran of the sport.
"He loves all the cheering from the crowd," said Chapelski. "He really enjoys performing.
"They're just loving the athlete lifestyle, walking around and really enjoying the Canada Winter Games and the opportunities that they provide. The Games is wonderful for gaining independence that they don't have at home.
"The support they've received just makes me cry. The rest of the B.C. athletes, especially the figure skaters, have been so supportive and welcoming. They're cheering on everyone. "
Divin, Lai, Walzak and Pahima have all spent some time watching the generic figure skaters and are mesmerized by their performances.
"They're inspired to see such a high level of skaters and it helps them realize how incredible they are," said Chapelski.
