Olivia Smart ( Upper 4 )

British and Scottish Novice Ice Dance Champion 2007

Olivia Smart wins both the British and Scottish Novice Dance Championhips 2007

Olivia, now 10 years old, began skating in November 2004 aged seven just to be able to skate with friends. However, a coach spotted her potential and encouraged her to take up the sport. Her first competition was in July 2005 in which she came eighth out of fifteen competitors. After that competition there was no stopping her as the picture of her first year's trophies show. Olivia then changed to her Coach, David Hartley, and since then she has really taken off: she qualified for the British and Scottish last year, coming third in both. This year she has taken first place in both competitions. Olivia skates both in dance and free skating, but free is the one she really enjoys because it involves doing jumps so giving her even more of a challenge.

Olivia's hard work and determination have certainly paid off for her. Olivia's day, most days, starts at 6.00 a.m. with practice from 6.45am until
8.30 am . On weekdays it is then off to school for the day, usually doing any homework in her break times as she knows that when school finishes she is back at the rink for more training. When training has finished most nights all Olivia wants is to relax with her very supportive family then bed to refresh for another day of hard work.