Figure skater Kathryn Magno upbeat on transitioning to speed skating

MANILA, Philippines — Kathryn Magno wasn’t wired to do speed skating. But she has been doing well in it. And she’s not showing signs of letting up.

Having been a figure skater all her life, the 27-year-old Magno started in the sport only three years ago. With a couple of compelling feats under her belt, she will look to give the Philippines its first medal in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games’ inaugural ice events.

“I do at times miss figure skating for being able to create these stories on ice. Whereas on speed skating, we rely on what? Speed. Going as fast as you can. Laps,” she shared.

“There was definitely a big adjustment,” Magno added.

But that very feeling of liberation, she said, is what will give her a boost in the biennial meet that kicks off Saturday.

“I feel more free-spirited with speed skating,” she offered. “I feel more comfortable as an athlete. I’ve gained more self-confidence on myself, making the switch. I learned more about myself as an athlete when I made that transition.”

Magno will be competing in the 500- and 1,000-meter divisions. She has won gold medals in the 2016 Tri-Series Southeast Asia Cup in Singapore, and has made history by becoming the first person to win a medal for the Philippines in an event here two years ago.

“That was 2014, my very first speed skating competition. Prior to that, I only trained for three months. I just made the switch. Being new in the sport, I was nervous,” she recalled. 

Those feats, according to the United States-born Magno, will serve as a solid springboard for her bid in the tournament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“Being able to achieve a medal at my first try shocked me, I think,” she shared. “I worked very hard. No doubt about how I trained being able to accomplish what I did.”

According to Magno, all of these are part of a grand plan.

“I hope to pave the way for future speed skaters,” she said. “The challenge is that everyone looks at it and says ‘I could do that, it’s simple!’ But it’s a very difficult sport."

“There’s a lot more that goes into speed skating than what you just see,” Magno shared. “I want to help bridge that gap.”