Synchronised in all the right ways
It was this time last year that Isabella Djordjevic (Duncraig Class of 2022) said goodbye to St Stephen’s School, and in just 12 months she’s had some incredible success in synchronised ice skating!
Isabella first started ice skating in 2014 before moving on to the synchronised form of the sport in 2018.
“My parents took me and a friend skating for the first time and I instantly loved it. I thought falling over was hilarious, so I kept going with my friends. I eventually started the “learn to skate” program which I loved and when I completed that I started with a private coach,” said Isabella.
Interestingly, it was her family’s desire for Isabella to stick with a team sport that led to syncrhonised skating – or ‘synchro’ for short – which as you can see is very much a team sport. Like figure skating, synchro involves elements like spins and jumps but synchro also involves lifts and pairs elements. Isabella explains, “Synchro involves 8-20 people performing a choreographed routine on ice. A panel of judges assess how we execute formations and manoeuvres. The scores are based on our skills, speed, difficulty of elements and overall artistic impression. Synchro is a unique sport but is highly celebrated in European countries”.
“I love the community that comes with the sport. I recently moved to NSW to compete with the Australian representative team and was instantly welcomed with open arms. There is so much I love about this sport. No matter where you are in the world, synchro brings everyone together. Even at international comps, it doesn’t matter if you end up first or last, we all celebrate together,” said Isabella.
“I’ve placed at many State and National level competitions but at the beginning of the year I was able to go to the 2023 Junior World Championships in France, which was such an incredible experience. The atmosphere in the stadium was unlike anything I have ever experienced”.
In 2023, Isabella also competed at a competition in Switzerland, coming fourth with her team “Majestic Ice”. She and her team then went on to place first at the State championships and SynchFest competition in NSW, which means they have once again been nominated for the National team.
But the wins don’t stop there! Just four days after the State championships in NSW, Isabella and her team came third in the senior division of an invitation-only, international competition in Shanghai – the Shanghai Trophy.
It’s been a jam-packed 12 months for Isabella! We look forward to sharing more of her accomplishments in the future!