The Icelandic Canadian - 01.02.2007, Síða 10

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THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
Vol. 60 #4
Canadian Icelander looks
toward 2010 Olympics
by Barbara Fletcher Gislason
Leifur Jon Thorarin Gislason is 23
years of age and was born in Winnipeg,
Manitoba in 1983 to parents Barbara and
Stefan Gislason. Stefan is the son of June
McKnight and Thorarin Gislason.
Thorarin was born in 1912 in the home-
stead of Skogtjorn, to parents Ingvar and
Thora Gislason. Leifur is immensely proud
of his Icelandic heritage.
Leifur Gislason began skating at two
and a half years of age. At four years old, he
fell in love with hockey, and convinced his
parents to let him play on the local six and
under team. At the age of seven, he was
introduced to what he and his family
believed to be power skating lessons.
Arriving with his hockey skates slung over
his shoulder and helmet tucked under his
arm, he was greeted by his instructor who
explained to him that these lessons were in
fact for figure skating! He and his family
assured the coach that they were not at all
interested in figure skating; they had
thought that these were lessons to help his
hockey. The instructor convinced him to
try the lessons anyway, in his hockey
skates, as she felt that any type of skating
instruction would surely help with his
game at this age.
Leifur hasn’t left the ice since. Starting
with a local figure skating carnival, Leifur
quickly developed the skill and the love for
the sport. He won numerous medals at var-
ious competitions, culminating in being the
Provincial Men’s Champion in his category
at the tender age of 11. At this Provincial
Championship he was approached by the
mother of the female Provincial Champion,
who asked if Leifur would be interested in
skating with her daughter. Although reluc-
tant to touch her hand, he agreed to give it
a try! They began training as a young Ice
Dance couple. It was obvious from the
very beginning that the two had a special
talent, charisma, and presence on the ice.
They began winning every competition
they entered - locally, nationally, and
internationally.
In 1999, in Calgary, Alberta, Leifur
and his partner became National
Champions of Canada at the Novice level.
The next year, with a move to the Junior
ranks, they captured the gold medal at an
International competition in Montreal,
Canada. From here they went on to com-
pete in front of their home crowd in
Winnipeg, Manitoba, where they ended
up on the podium once again. For their
first year skating at the Junior level, this
was an incredible accomplishment. The
next year they were once again on the
podium, and were assigned to the Junior
Grand Prix Circuit, an eight-stop circuit
that encompasses the world. They were
also named to the Canadian Junior World
Team, competing in Hamar, Norway. The
next year, although still age eligible for
Junior, they decided to test the waters at
the Senior Level. They skated in their first
Senior National competition where they
placed an impressive 7th.
The success of Leifur’s figure skating
career came fast and furious, and now at
the age of 19, there were many difficult
decisions to be made. Figure skating is an
all-consuming sport, requiring year round
training, huge financial burdens, and living
away from home. Education was also a
very high priority to Leifur and his fami-
ly. He excelled academically being an hon-
our roll student, and winning many acad-
emic awards.