BARRIE, Ontario — Dana Sabatini-Speciale and Nicholas Buelow have set their goals in motion to one day be part of the Olympic dream. The two are relatively new partners having teamed up in 2019 but are already on top of their sport in just a few short years. Dana and Nicholas have both been skating since they were young. In their first year of competition together, the pair was 2019 Ontario Pre-Novice champions and placed fourth at the Pre-Novice nationals.

Sixteen-year-old Dana resides in Springwater, and trains at the Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie with her ice dance partner Nicholas Buelow (15), from Barrie.

Dana and Nicholas have not only had huge success but have grown a friendship both on and off the ice. “We both really love the sport, so I think that really brings us together!” Dana shares.

Dana and Nicholas were recently crowned silver medalists for Ice Dance at the Canadian Novice National Championships on February 27, 2022, which was hosted by Tsuut’ina Nation at Seven Chiefs Sports Complex in Calgary. This was the pair’s first time competing at the novice level. Dana and Nicholas’ free dance program was choreographed by coach and Olympic ice dancer Mitch Islam and ice dance partner Alexandra Paul. Alexandra is also a former Olympic ice dancer and a Springwater Sports Heritage Hall of Fame inductee.

Upon completing their free skate performance, both Dana and Nicholas knew they had just had one of their best performances, and with their scores a personal best they also knew they were guaranteed a spot on the podium.

Dana and Nicholas trained hard all season and during Covid. The nationals were postponed in January due to Covid, so the extra month of training, Dana says, gave them extra confidence and the two were able to increase their skill greatly, “We went into it feeling pretty confident!”

Coach and former competitive ice skater Mitch Islam shares that the two have experienced a whirlwind of success during a unique period of time since coming together in 2019, with the pandemic affecting training and the ability to compete.

“We were stripped of that opportunity as it’s a huge part of this sport, but it’s a testament to the mental fortitude of these two – they never wavered.” He goes on to say what these two have accomplished in a short time is incredible, but admits it takes a lot of work – “you get out what you put in!” Talent, passion, and hard work, he says can’t be taught, or the mental capacity needed to recognize the time and effort it takes to succeed in this sport. “It’s really exciting to see these two develop.”

The pair will be moving up to the junior level next, hoping to be one of the top teams in Canada. Dana says, “Hopefully Skate Canada will send us to represent Canada at the junior international events and junior Grand Prix competitions around the world,” but says their long-term goal as for many skaters is to represent Canada at the Olympics.

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