Streatham ice dance star frustrated at lack of ice rink availability

Theodore Alexander is desperate to get back on the ice – with his mum stating her frustration at the delay.

The rinks have been closed since March 18 and proposed reopening dates of late July and the start of August have been cancelled.

Streatham-based Alexander, 16, is one of the leading ice dance competitors in the UK and is trained by Olympians Marika Humphreys-Baranova and Vitaliy Baranov in Lee Valley.

“Many have valiantly done what training they can off ice, for four months – but they need their ice back,” said Karen Alexander.

“Theodore is looking for his next ice dance partner. He has tried out with many girls in UK but getting the right age, standard, energy and talent is difficult.

“The week before last I took him to Italy to try out with a girl who we believe could be the ideal partner.  She is already in the country ready for the return try out on August 10, and now the ice rinks have been cancelled again.

“This girl was considering coming to London to train with my son and represent Great Britain. She will be returning home early and I have no idea whether she will now consider my son and the UK for her training.

“We must be the laughing stock of the ice skating world.

“Most rinks opened back in May or June in other countries and in the UK we still cannot get the government to agree for us to reopen.

“Pubs are open, gyms and swimming pools – but for some reason they are not letting our training athletes back on the ice.  These skaters are highly trained, disciplined and as for social distancing, with steel blades on the end of their boots they are trained to keep distance from other skaters, so are much less a risk to each other than the general population.

“We need the government to change its mind and allow rinks to reopen.

“Ironically ‘Dancing on Ice’ have already opened one rink and are auditioning celebrities on ice, but real competing ice skaters still have no ice.”