Jasmine Coetzee Glides Towards Her Olympic Dream

Photo Credit: Tandala Photography

Jasmine Coetzee has her heart and sights set on representing South Africa at the Olympics and is working incredibly hard to make that a reality.

South Africa (03 June 2025) – She may have started on a small rink in Kazakhstan, but today, South Africa’s own Jasmine Coetzee is carving her way onto the world stage, one graceful stride at a time.

Fresh off her win as Junior Ladies Champion at the 2025 SAFSA National Championships, 19-year-old Coetzee is capturing hearts both here at home and abroad. Her victory is all thanks to her resilience, talent and a dream that refuses to melt under pressure.

“Despite all the challenges this season, I fought through,” says Jasmine. “When I realised I had won, all I felt was relief, pride, and joy. It made every sacrifice worth it.”

She first laced up her skates and took to the ice at five and a half, and has never looked back. Her journey has taken her from South African rinks to elite coaching camps in Canada and Russia, including time with the iconic Angels of Plushenko. Today, she trains in Almaty, Kazakhstan, under Ilia Klimkin, supported by her South African coach and mentor, Dino Quattrocecere, a Winter Olympian himself.

“From the first time I saw her skate, I thought: this child is going to be special,” says Quattrocecere. “She’s got champion material in her, and it’s my job to help her shine.”

At Nationals, she proved just how brightly she can shine. After missing two jumps early in her free skate, Jasmine rallied with the poise of a seasoned pro. It was the kind of moment that reveals true grit, the kind you don’t teach.

“She’s a fighter,” Quattrocecere says. “Many skaters would have thrown in the towel, but Jasmine? She kept going.”

Off the ice, Jasmine juggles second-year university studies in sports and physical education, embracing a lifestyle that demands discipline, heart, and an uncanny ability to thrive under pressure. And while she may be one of the tallest junior skaters on the circuit, she’s using that to her advantage, adding striking elegance to the rink.

With sights set on Junior Worlds and a long-term dream of the 2030 Winter Olympics, Jasmine is training harder than ever.

None of this would be possible without the unwavering support of her parents, Michael and Lola Coetzee.

“I give massive credit to her family,” says Quattrocecere. “They’ve sacrificed tremendously to help her chase her dreams.”

Inspired by figure skating icon Carolina Kostner, Jasmine skates with a joyful resilience that’s impossible to ignore.

“Progress doesn’t happen overnight,” she says. “But when you love what you do, amazing things happen.”

And as she prepares to represent South Africa on the international stage, Jasmine is doing more than chasing medals. She’s giving young South Africans a reason to believe.