It’s a moment that happened 35 years. At the 1989 Interlake Regional Competition, I won my first gold medal. Primary Dance gold. A team effort with my sister. One could scoff and say, “That was years ago” or “Primary? Really?” I always say every achievement has a story, first place or last. They’re learning lessons, regardless of age or level.
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After a brief hiatus from competitions, the Arborg Skating Club attended the 1989 Interlake Regional Competition in Fisher Branch, bringing home a gold and bronze medal.

Technically, our club brought home three medals.

My older sister, Jenn, and I were born 20 months apart. As toddlers, we were angels in public, but under a coat of darkness, we’d attempt to maim each other using creative means.

There’s a well-told story about the time my sister and I were buckled into our car seats. Dad heard us screaming. He turned around and saw us with kinked necks because we were pulling each other’s ponytails with our tiny fists and wailing at the top of our lungs.

Dad calls this the “missed Kodak” moment.

We both joined the Arborg SC in 1980, and my parents were relived that we spent less than half a season in the same group.

During the 1987/1988 season, my sister stepped away from the sport while I entered private lessons under the Canadian Figure Skating Association (CFSA) now called Skate Canada. By season’s end, I’d passed the Dutch Waltz, the first preliminary dance.

During the off-season, there were whispers about our club. According to sources – the village rumour mill – the Arborg Skating Club was signing a highly certified competitive coach from Ottawa, Ontario: Joanne Hough. She skated with the likes of Elizabeth Manley, who was my first skating idol.

At the beginning of the 1988/89 season, Joanne held a meeting with the CFSA and CanSkate skaters, and our parents. She wanted the Arborg SC to start competing again – singles and synchro (precision). I was sold because I’m competitive. I’d crumble if there wasn’t a Scratch ‘N Sniff sticker on my elementary school tests.

My first competition would be the 1989 Interlake Regional Competition, Primary Ladies “B.”

My Mom already filled out our registration forms (by hand) when Joanne pitched an idea that increased our registration fee. Which Mom wrote by cheque. And sent by mail. To the competition host. Ah, the days of “must be postmarked by.”

Besides singles, Joanne thought my sister and I should also compete in Primary Dance at Regionals. We were already there, why not?

Plus it was another chance for a medal.

But Jenn needed her Dutch Waltz, and we both needed our Canasta Tango. Regionals were January 28th, and our test day was January 14th. While we both passed our dances, I could feel our chance a medal slipping away.

The two of us barely practised outside of our lessons.

I’d skate on our rink at home, swing rolling and chasse-ing around the ice with the Dutch Waltz and Canasta music seared into my mind. With lesson time dwindling, Joanne told my Mom our medal chances were slim and “we probably wouldn’t place” because we weren’t practising together.

Joanne instilled the fear. But, by the end of our last half-hour lesson, I felt confident. We added cool head movements for the Canasta, which I thought increased our odds.

On January 28th, 1989 around 7:30ish a.m., about 14 eager Arborg skaters converged at the Fisher Branch arena for the 1989 Interlake Regional Competition. I can still envision the front door opening.

It was complete chaos. Skaters in spandex dresses or carrying them, parents registering their child, vendors selling pins, costumes, sweaters, flowers. One happy competitive Regional family.

The Primary Ladies singles event was first, and the dance events dropped the curtain on the night. At the time, medals were awarded when the competition ended. If a skater won a medallion in Primary Ladies at 9 a.m., they’d have to stay until 8 p.m. or later.

My Dad videotaped each Arborg competitor – except one. Cold isn’t a camera battery’s friend, and he missed the final Arborg skater because he was recharging. During our dance warm up, he switched tapes, fearing he was running out of room. I’m certain my Dad holds an Arborg record for watching the most black and white skating through a two inch screen in the colour television era.

Up first, the singles event. I finished my program, and I stayed to watch Jenn from the sidelines. She was a strong contender for a medal, but she almost slid off an edge and her choreo went out the window. Then, she barrelled down centre ice, entered a flip, and landed on the edge of her blade and tumbled to the ice. After her program, there was pure devastation on her face. An ice captain handed Jenn a participation certificate, and she sped to the changing rooms. Despite the fall, I believe she placed fifth or sixth.

My program was to the love theme from Flashdance and theme song from Fletch. My disappointment from my 10th place (second last) finish was temporary. I thought – it’s okay – because we’ll perform two perfect dances tonight.

Because I wanted that gold medal.

In the video, I swear you can see veins pulsating in my head as Joanne coached Jenn and I from the sidelines. A team almost careened into us – and I glared at them. Yes, the Manitoba Glare.

The results were quick too post. I was waiting with my coach in the gallery with a massive crowd. I’ll never forget the judge who posted the results, then she had to duck because she was swarmed by an oncoming hoard of coaches, parents, and skaters, converging at the bulletin board. Joanne waited for a few moments, then she sauntering through the chaos and – seriously – people cleared a pathway for her.

Joanne turned to me, with excitement, holding up her index finger, and whispered: “First!”

I stared at her for a second in disbelief – and then I raced to the dressing rooms to tell Jenn. We accomplished the goal. First, out of twelve teams. Some of those teams were practicing those dances in summer school. I burst into the changing room where Jenn was with an Arborg SC skater who’d won the bronze medal in Primary Ladies “B.”

“Jenn! We won!” and I started jumping. “We won!”

Jenn stared at me. “What?”

“We’re first! We won the gold!”

By that time Joanne entered the dressing room. She congratulated the three of us on our medals, and then she said, “You should’ve seen Tammy’s face when I told her.”

In hindsight, that look on my face would’ve make an awesome candid photo.

The medal ceremony seemed grand with a red carpet leading to an on-ice podium. Just like in the movie Skate! (Blades of Courage). We were also given a single red rose – which I kept for years. Even the lights seemed dim – especially after lighting the host club for almost 20 hours.

Nothing can replicate standing with my older sister on top spot, receiving our first gold medal.

But some things never change.

Dad recorded the ceremony and in the video, I say something and laugh. My sister peers at me, and says something back, and then she looks into the crowd with a sweet smile.

I had told her, “I think I’m going to cry.

Jenn responded, “You do, and I’ll push you off.”

Now that’s a Kodak moment. This time, captured on video.
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January 28, 2014: Original post
January 28, 2020: Edited post
January 28, 2024: Edited post