Grit and Grace Earn Tristané Schmulian a Figure Skating National Title

Photo Credit: Tandala Photography

After a challenging season filled with rigorous training and injuries, figure skater and recent national title holder Tristané Schmulian sees her win not just as a personal achievement but as a tribute to all those who supported her in dominating at one of her biggest competitions yet with inspiring grit and grace.

Johannesburg, South Africa (12 June 2025) – It’s truly mind-blowing what the human mind, heart, body and spirit can achieve when it has set its sights on something. For 15-year-old Tristané Schmulian, securing the 2025 Advanced Novice High-Performance National title was never a certainty; in fact, making it to the nationals almost didn’t even happen at all.

Plagued by injuries for much of the season and forced to adjust training, routines, and expectations, Tristané entered the 2025 South African Figure Skating National Championships with the resolve of someone who had fought just to make it to the competition.

“There’s an element of surprise in winning this title,” she admits.

“This season was really tough. So, there’s definitely a huge feeling of gratefulness, especially for all the support I received from my family, coaches, the medical team, the sport psychologist, friends, and fellow skaters. I feel fortunate because I know how hard every other skater also worked.”

That mix of humility and determination defines her skating journey. Winning the national title, Tristané says, is an acknowledgement that if you keep pushing and don’t quit, anything is possible.

“I learned that I do have perseverance and determination. This title isn’t just mine. It belongs to everyone who supported me. I’m just the one who got to wear the medal,” she says.

Behind the scenes, it took a team effort to get her to the finish line. Since November 2023, injuries have disrupted her jump work and forced frequent changes to her training regimen.

“An injury is also not just physically hard, it takes a huge mental toll as well.”
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Despite the setbacks, Tristané delivered a performance at Nationals that showcased not only technical strength but also emotional maturity.

“I’m really proud of my short program. When I started my skating career, I used to skate with my head down, focusing only on the ice. Now I love performing. I also landed both of my double axels. After struggling with my jumps all season, that was a massive achievement for me.”

Off the ice, her schedule is just as intense. Most days begin before dawn with early morning practice, followed by school, hockey, revue rehearsals, and late-night study sessions.

“It’s a balancing act,” she says.

“But I’ve learned valuable time management skills, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.”

There are moments of exhaustion, she admits, and days when it all feels a bit too much. However, skating is her passion, and the drive to improve keeps her motivated and grounded.

“I love this sport. Even though it’s demanding, it’s worth all the hard work.”

Looking ahead, her goals remain ambitious. She’s focused on achieving the ISU international qualifying score in Advanced Novice and, when ready, hopes to move into Junior Ladies once she’s nailed the required jump elements.

“I’ll follow my coach’s advice in this regard. I was unfortunately not able to work on triples this season due to injuries.”

What she is very sure of is that she wants to stay in the sport for the long haul. She has already begun shadowing to become a TAP coach and hopes to one day give back to the community that has shaped her life.

“Skating has taught me to work hard, be resilient, humble, and confident. It’s part of who I am.”

And her message to other young skaters:

“Keep going. Even small steps move you forward. Believe in yourself. Listen to your coach! Work hard, on and off the ice. And never ever give up on your dream.”