After competing at the International Adult Figure Skating Competition in Oberstdorf, Germany, in 2023, Karissa Williams, a skating coach in Michigan, vowed she would return. She gave birth to daughter Hera in 2024, so she planned her return for 2026. Not only did she achieve her goal — winning a bronze medal in the Gold Women II free skating event — but she watched her student Eric Cook dazzle audiences with a silver medal performance in Gold Men I + II free skating and fourth-place in Masters Men I + II artistic skating.
“It was a goal of mine for a long time to put him on the largest stage that I could put him on so that he could really showcase his talents,” said Williams. “There are a lot of adult skaters and, of course, a lot of Black skaters [who] have never been on this large of a stage or competed against so many people from different countries.”
While Williams grew up skating, Cook only started the sport four years ago. Adult competitions are for skaters 25 and older, and there is a wide range of ability and ages, so they can compete in multiple divisions. The international competition in Germany attracts skaters from all over the world. Williams, Cook, and Linda Frances from New York were the only Black skaters.
“Competition-wise, seeing how big of a community [adult skating] is and how big of a competition this is was eye-opening,” said Cook, 36, a system engineer. “I’m a pretty introverted person, so picking a sport like figure skating was a very interesting choice … It’s never too late to start skating if you have the interest and drive.”
While Williams is at an ice rink every day as a coach, her goal to compete at this competition motivated her to keep up her own skating. “Along with having Eric join me, this was pretty much my end goal for the entire season,” she said. “It meant a lot to me to know that I could do what I would call a decent program being only 20 months postpartum.”
Bringing a student to this level and increasing diversity in skating beyond her own performances means a lot to Williams. “It’s the road that I pave and the path that I set for those coming up behind me,” she said.
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