Fox Friday: Diana Balkovski is an Internationally Placed Synchronized Skater

Fox Friday is a series that highlights the accomplishments of students districtwide. We regularly feature the incredible things our students are up to — whether they are excelling academically, athletically or are quietly impressive.

Synchronized skating has taken Diana Balkovski all over the world. The Fox Lane High School senior and her Team Skyliners Junior team have placed third internationally for the past two years.

We spoke to her to learn a little bit more about the sport and her experience in it.

How did you get started with synchronized skating?

When I was six, my mom signed me up for synchronized skating so that I could skate with other girls my age since I had been enjoying skating. I really liked it because I made a lot of new friends and skating became more fun, so I stuck with it. 

What do you think makes synchronized skating stand out from other sports? How is it different and what do you enjoy about it?

Synchronized skating is different from other sports because it requires artistry, technique, power, and flexibility all at once. Also, each skater has to be matched with the rest of the team to have an effective program, which can be really hard to achieve with 16 unique skaters. 

What does training look like?

We practice as a team on Friday nights, Saturdays, and Sundays. We have about seven hours of ice time per weekend, and five hours of off-ice training where we work on conditioning and cleaning up details in our programs. Then, during the week, we all train individually and work on skating skills and endurance to prepare for weekend practices. 

Your team has been incredibly successful in recent years. Can you tell us about some of the places you've visited and competitions you've placed in?

Every year, we travel to three to four international competitions and three to four domestic competitions. Last year we went to Sweden for the junior world championships, and the year before we went to Switzerland. Both years, we placed third overall. For nationals, we went to Colorado Springs last year and to Las Vegas the year before, in which we placed second both times. 

Is there anything you've learned through skating that you think has helped you academically? Or vice versa?

I’ve learned how to ask others around me for help when I need to because of how team-oriented the sport is. Also, I’ve learned to manage my time, persevere, and work really hard to see results. 

Do you have a favorite skating memory?

My favorite skating memory is walking around in the town in the Netherlands during my first international competition. I remember taking pictures with all of my friends and walking into shops in the town we were in, and it was really fun because we didn’t have much to do, so we could just enjoy our time together. It was also my first time going abroad with my teammates, so it was really special.