It’s not hard to spot 13-year-old Lia Cho when she’s at the rink. She’s usually the smallest competitor, but she soars to new heights every time she competes. Cho says the ice is her happy place. “My favourite thing is feeling the fresh air when I skate,” she said. “And when I jump, it makes me feel like a bird.” Started young Cho started figure skating when she was just five years old. She keeps getting better every year. She’s the defending Canadian Junior Women’s champ. Last year in Laval, Quebec, Cho won the title with a record-breaking score of 118.79 points. “I honestly think the reason why I’m good at skating is because when I skate, I always feel very happy about myself,” she said. “It makes me happy seeing all my friends and coaches and doing all my jumps and elements. “It just makes me feel so happy when I skate.” Hard worker This week, Cho is skating in Calgary at the Seven Chiefs Sportsplex in the Skate Canada Challenge. She trains out of the Glencoe Club, and her coach, Scott Davis, says she puts the effort in. “Lia is very dedicated and works really hard,” he said. “(She’s) one of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen. “She’s very diligent and one of the most consistent skaters at such a young age, which is pretty impressive.” Long-term goal Cho says her short-term goal is to compete internationally next year in Junior Grand Prix events. But she has her eyes on the Olympics down the road. “Going to the Olympics would be a total big dream for me,” she said. “I watched Yuna Kim compete at the 2014 Olympics, and I honestly really wanted to compete in the Olympics when I saw that. “That’s my goal—to compete for Canada at the Olympics.” The Skate Canada Challenge continues through Sunday at the Seven Chiefs Sportsplex. Admission is free.
