Gian-Quen Isaacs is skating to end South Africa’s 25-Year Winter Olympic drought

JOHANNESBURG -It’s been more than 25 years since a South African figure skater graced the Winter Olympic stage - but Gian-Quen Isaacs is ready to change that.

With eyes set on Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, she’s hoping to attract sponsors to help her achieve her goal of competing there and making history.

The games are scheduled to take place from 6 to 22 February 2026.

“The qualifier is in September in Beijing, which I’ll be attending with my eye on qualifying a spot for SA. I’ve reached out to various corporations and departments for funding in order to train at Ice Lab in Italy. It’s an environment that produces elite athletes and was key in my having qualified for both Junior Worlds and 4CC.”

The Ice Lab in Bergamo, Italy, is one of Europe’s training hubs for the sport. She would work under coach and choreographer Ondrej Hotarek while staying in close contact with her Cape Town-based coach, Megan Allely-Painczyk.

“Funding is always a challenge in figure skating, especially in countries where the sport isn’t mainstream. I’m actively looking for sponsorship opportunities and partnerships that align with my journey. It would be amazing to see more national-level support for winter sports and for South African companies to get involved in nurturing our talent. Whether it’s through grants, corporate sponsorships, or community-driven fundraising, every bit helps. I truly believe that with the right backing, South African athletes can make an even bigger mark on the world stage.”

The 20-year-old, who is one of South Africa’s brightest figure skating talents, recently competed at the Four Continents Championships (4CC) a competition that the South African Figure Skating Association said marked the biggest moment of her senior international career and possibly the beginning of a new era for South African figure skating.

“Skating at 4CC in Seoul was both humbling and motivating. Being on the same ice as some of the world’s top athletes pushed me beyond my comfort zone, and while I didn’t skate perfectly, I was proud of the growth I saw in my performance under pressure. I’d like to improve my consistency, especially in my jump elements, and build more confidence in the second half of my programs when stamina becomes a challenge. Seoul reminded me that I belong at this level and that every small detail counts.”

She tells Eyewitness News one of her major takeaways from competing at an international level is that mental readiness is just as critical as physical preparation.

“I saw how athletes from bigger federations prepare meticulously from warm-ups to mental visualisation. I learned to stay focused on my own lane, not get overwhelmed by the prestige of the event, and to trust the training I’ve done. Another lesson was how important it is to adapt quickly to different rinks, time zones, and environments—being flexible is a skill in itself.”

The 2019 national junior champion has represented South Africa in the 2018 and 2019 ISU Junior Grand Prix circuits and won the Santa Claus Cup in Basic Novice in Budapest in 2017.

“I stumbled into figure skating almost by accident. I went to watch an ice hockey match with my mom and wanted to play ice hockey. Unfortunately, I’ve never skated, so I was advised to join a learn to skate club.  I remember my mom purchasing my first pair of skates and telling me to at least commit to skating for 1 year. Two weeks in the head coach of the club told my mom I have the potential to be a competitive athlete in figure skating, and the rest is history.  He linked us with my coach, who has been my coach since the beginning. South Africa doesn’t have a big skating culture, so it started small, but I fell in love with the sport and never looked back.”