by Anne Calder | Pictures by Robin Ritoss
Fatima Gomez Sandoval is the primary solo dancer to symbolize Mexico on the nationwide and worldwide degree.
She is a Junior Solo Mixed skater who trains with Kristen Frazier-Lukanin and Igor Lukanin on the Kriger Studio in Montclair, NJ.
Her story started when she was 4 years previous. She went to a mall in Mexico Metropolis together with her mother and father and noticed a skating rink for the primary time.
5 months later she made her aggressive debut and continued skating singles till she was sixteen.
“It was higher to coach within the States,” Gomez Sandoval mentioned. “I’ve been coming to completely different locations in North America since I used to be 4 or 5. I did Canada, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey.
“First I used to be a singles skater. Then I ran right into a [medical] scenario the place they discovered 4 tumors in my left leg. There’s part of my leg I don’t really feel, and It will definitely left me out of singles. I needed to cease leaping.
“I used to be coaching on the Ice Home in Hackensack, NJ again then. I used to be doing nice. I used to be a Junior skater and went to the JGP in Turkey in 2023. It was superior. Once I got here again I needed to study to bounce. That’s when I discovered Kristen and Igor.”
In 2024, the Worldwide Skating Union (ISU) formally acknowledged Solo Dance as an Worldwide self-discipline.
“Earlier than I started representing Mexico in Solo Dance, I met with the Federation,” Gomez Sandoval defined. “They knew all the things about my well being, and that my strongest skating had all the time been performing. Truly, I used to be by no means a robust jumper. They mentioned I might begin as a Junior.”
Gomez Sandoval competed at a number of home and worldwide occasions in the course of the 2025 season.
She represented the Mexican Federation of Ice Skating and Winter Sports activities at three 2025 SDS occasions: Morris Open, Dallas Basic and Lake Placid Championships and two worldwide occasions: Atlanta, USA and Helsinki, FIN. She additionally skated on the ninth Mexican Open Skating Competitors in Could.
“I don’t really stay in New Jersey full time,” she mentioned. “I come and go. I used to be there for 2 months, then I went again residence for 3 months. I’m making an attempt to complete highschool, and it’s troublesome to get all the things completed within the U.S. Additionally, my household is in Mexico.”
“One factor I do discover humorous once I return to Mexico Metropolis and practice solo with all of the freestyle skaters is everybody leaping,” she laughed. “I’m wondering to myself if I’m lacking one thing.
“My buddies again residence are so supportive of what I’m doing. They’re so comfortable for me as a result of they all the time knew I used to be a giant performer.”
“Once I skated freestyle, I by no means fell. I used to be a giant popper,” Gomez Sandoval defined. “My mother was so terrified she couldn’t watch. My first solo competitors she watched me stay, and I cried. In Could I skated again residence in Mexico. It was not a contest. I cried as a result of I used to be so comfortable that I acquired to take pleasure in my second [in Mexico], and it felt so particular. I’m so comfortable my mother additionally acquired to take pleasure in that.”
“I did a contest in Finland. My complete household was there, and I fell whereas doing completely nothing,” Gomez Sandoval mentioned. “My mother was so unhappy for me. It was on a selection eagle. The ice was slippery and new. I hit the wall. My blade went into my thigh, and I lower myself. I acquired up and needed to start out once more.
“My mom jogged my memory that it was my first season, and subsequent season I’d be extra aggressive.”
“I’m glad to be having fun with skating once more. I’m excited for subsequent season. It’s going to be an amazing journey.”
Fatima Gomez Sandoval
Fatima’s Last Info…
- My mother and father don’t watch my skating collectively. My mother goes to at least one place; my dad goes to a different.
- Madison Hubbell and Adrian Diaz are my favourite skaters ever. I do know they aren’t a skating couple, however once I watch them individually, I like their skating.
- Brooke Tufts shouldn’t be solely a mentor in skating. She’s like my massive sister.
- For me to be right here in Lake Placid is a dream. I advised my mother that that is the place I’m presupposed to be. I really feel I’m becoming in with the people who find themselves right here.
- Solo Dance is one other method to present how stunning skating is. We neglect skating shouldn’t be solely leaping and seeing who can rotate extra within the air. It’s extra about the fantastic thing about skating. There are such a lot of stunning skaters who can’t shine as a result of jumps are the one means. Solo Dance is one of the best factor that has occurred to me this previous yr.
