Meet Athlete Kari Trott!
Athlete Kari Trott has been gliding, spinning and jumping with SOBC – Port Alberni as a figure skater for 17 years. Trott loves her sport – especially the inclusion and empowerment that comes along with it.
"Being able to showcase my abilities to people makes me feel happy," says Trott. “Skating makes me feel like I'm flying. I feel alive."
She skates in groups of athletes with and without intellectual disabilities. "They all accept me for who I am,” says Trott.
Trott’s figure skating has taken her to national levels, as she competed at the Canada Winter Games 2019 in Red Deer and won silver in figure skating singles at Special Olympics Canada Winter Games 2024 in Calgary.
“Making Nationals was a dream come true. The team we had was unreal. They were all so supportive of everybody,” she says, recalling early mornings bonding as a team at the rink. “We'd sit for hours and watch each other and scream each other's names and clap.”
Learn more about SO Team BC 2024
Trott’s decision to join Special Olympics as a figure skater was a combination of an old schoolmate’s recommendation, her love of figure skating movies and her family’s influence.
“I've always loved the sport because my two cousins on my dad's side figure skate. I never really talk to them, but they kind of inspired me in a way,” she says. “I was like, ‘why not put another Trott into figure skating?’"
Along the way, Trott has made lasting friendships across the country.
She recalls meeting a figure skating athlete at Canada Winter Games who achieved a spot on the podium. Trott hoped to one day be on the podium alongside her.
Fast forward to five years later, when Trott secured a silver at National Games. Standing beside her in first place was the same athlete.
They became quick friends. “She visited me this summer which was really nice,” she says.
Now, Trott participates in athletics in addition to figure skating, running the 100m, 200m and 400m events.
“Special Olympics is like one big family,” she says. “No one judges you. You meet a lot of cool people, and they're your friends for life.”