The Blue & Yellow On Ice
It’s a cold morning in Markham, Ontario. The sun has barely risen and we find ourselves fighting off shivers inside an arena. We’re a far cry from the white sand beaches of Barbados and seriously questioning our choices.
From the first time we caught a glimpse of Priyanka elegantly gliding across the ice on social media, we were immediately intrigued and needed to know more. We were curious about this talented ice skater and inspired by the story of her fierce Bajan pride. Her mother Tracey Sharma migrated from Barbados to Canada 50 years ago and has always had a love and passion for figure skating.
Priyanka’s skating journey began humbly at age three, when Tracey and her husband Raj, enrolled her in a learn-to-skate class at their local community center. “I hated it,” Priyanka admits with a laugh. “The helmet felt heavy, the layers were suffocating, and I spent more time falling than skating.” Then, one weekend her parents took her to an outdoor rink in the neighbourhood. That experience transformed her frustration into fascination. Unbound by lessons, she felt the thrill of flying across the ice—and she never looked back.
When Priyanka was four, she was selected to join the competitive skating academy. Over the next year, she participated in multiple sports, but at just five years of age, her parents asked her to choose one sport she’d like to focus on. “I chose figure skating because I loved being on the ice and mastering new skills,” she announced. In years to come she would truly experience the sensation of flying as she mastered new jumps and spins.
Priyanka’s biggest dream is to break barriers by competing for Barbados at the Winter Olympics. From the moment she started skating, the Olympics have always been her ultimate goal. “I vividly remember watching the 2010 Winter Olympics on TV when I was 4 years old and thinking, I want to be there someday.” She believes competing while showcasing her Barbadian heritage would be a dream come true and a historic achievement for both Barbados and Barbadians worldwide.
For the Sharma family it is not just Priyanka’s personal journey but building a legacy of winter sports for Barbados. In 2023, together they founded the Barbados Ice Skating Association (BSA). The association serves as a platform for young skaters to train and compete on a global stage. As a nonprofit organization, they aim to give back to the island and introduce winter sports to the country. The BSA actively seeks out young Barbadian athletes, both in Barbados and internationally. Athletes may have never set foot on ice, or looking to advance their skills. Although it is a significant endeavour, the BSA is excited about the prospect of gaining membership in the International Skating Union (ISU) to further develop the sport in Barbados.
But how does a tropical island with no ice rink support a figure skating dream? Building a rink in Barbados would be a monumental undertaking, costing millions and requiring immense energy to maintain. Yet, Priyanka’s family sees a future where cutting-edge solutions—like synthetic ice or solar-powered cooling—could make this dream a reality. “We’re exploring every avenue,” says Tracey. “Imagine the only ice rink in the Caribbean, not just for training but as a unique addition to Barbados’ sports tourism.”
In the meantime Priyanka is currently training full-time while taking a year off her post secondary studies to focus on training. She believes it allows her time to fully focus on becoming the best skater she can be and performing at her highest level. With a grueling schedule of 24 training hours a week, Priyanka’s days often begin before sunrise. By 7:00 a.m., she’s on the ice, perfecting jumps and spins under the watchful eyes of her coach Mark Batka who she has been with since she was 6 years old. Off the ice, her regimen includes strength training, ballet, and choreography sessions—every detail fine-tuned to help her soar on the international stage.
Priyanka has come a long way since her first competition at 6 years old. “I was thrilled to perform my very first program in my new dress. Although I finished in last place, it didn’t discourage me from continuing my skating journey.” In June 2024, she competed at an event in Mexico. This was a fantastic opportunity for her to gain experience and meet new people. It was her first event of the season, featuring newly choreographed programs and new dresses but feeling well-prepared she managed to skate two solid programs, scoring personal bests in both. She secured the gold medal in the senior ladies’ category.
Priyanka hopes to inspire kids in Barbados to pursue ice skating and explore the opportunities the sport offers. Through participating in local Canadian events representing the Barbadian association, she aims to raise awareness for the emerging federation and share her experiences. Recently, she joined a skating development camp in Costa Rica, where five Barbadian kids, aged 7-14 years old, skated on ice for the first time, along with another Barbadian skater from Sweden. Beyond its work in Barbados, the BSA has built strong connections with skaters across Central and Latin America, supporting the growth of the sport in the region. Obviously as ice skating is not native to Barbados nor currently available, their goal has been to promote the sport and look to get kids participating in camps overseas. They are also on the lookout for skaters with Barbadian heritage that can join the association from different parts of the world.
With each glide, jump, and spin, Priyanka is proving that the seemingly impossible is within reach. A Barbadian Olympic medalist in figure skating may once have seemed like a distant dream, but with her determination, the BSA’s vision and the eternal Bajan “can do” spirit, that dream edges closer to reality. For Priyanka and Barbados, the ice is just the beginning—Upward and Onward We Shall Go…all the way to the podium.
