An ice dancer from Ruddington has secured her place on Team GB at the 2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang after winning an Olympic qualifying competition this weekend!
Penny Coomes and figure skating partner Nick Buckland, who hails from Wilford, built on their initial lead in the “Short Dance” section with victory in yesterday’s “Free Dance” at Oberstdorf in Germany – so lifting the Nebelhorn Trophy. You can see their winning routine >>HERE<<.
This victory means that South Korea will now be the third trip to a Winter Olympics for our local duo – having also represented Team GB at Vancouver in 2010 and Sochi in 2014.
Their achievement is all the more astonishing because it was only in June last year that Penny smashed her right patella (kneecap) into eight pieces after a serious fall. At the time it threatened to bring her skating career to a premature end. You can watch a video of her incredible and determined recovery >>HERE<<.
After months of painful rehab, not only is Penny now back on the ice, and competing again, but also a serious Olympic Medal contender for next year! She and Nick have even been working on new routines choreographed by Nottingham ice skating legends Jayne Torvill & Christopher Dean.
After yesterday’s victory in Germany, Penny took to social media to say: “Thank you UK Sport & The National Lottery for supporting Nick and I through my knee injury. We couldn’t have qualified for our third Games without you.” She also tweeted a picture (below) adding: “A HUGE thank you to my amazing Physio @TATaylorK @TheISEH for being with me every step of the way. I wouldn’t be back without your super powers!”
{TOP PHOTO: Courtesy of Team GB}
