Thunder Bay skater competes in provincial championships

Mary Furlong-Kelly, an 18-year-old figure skater from Thunder Bay, Ontario, is set to compete in the Skate Ontario Provincial Championships this weekend. The event takes place from March 21 to 23 in Stratford, where she will perform in the Women's Gold Artistic category. Furlong-Kelly started skating at the age of three, influenced by her family's sports background. Her father was a figure skater, and her mother played hockey. She has been involved in competitive skating since she was under ten years old and qualified for her first provincials at age nine. This year marks her first return to the competition after a break. The Gold Artistic category focuses on artistic expression rather than jumps. Furlong-Kelly describes it as a solo performance, emphasizing skating skills and creativity. She will be judged on her interpretation of music and overall performance quality. Despite being the only skater from Thunder Bay attending this year, she will be joined by two other northern Ontario competitors, Mikayla Fabbro and Emma Van Alstine. The gold artistic event will take place on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET. Around 700 to 800 skaters are expected to participate in the championships, which is considered one of the largest figure skating events in Ontario. Furlong-Kelly has been training hard since January, focusing on choreography and fitness. She expressed excitement and nerves about the competition, hoping to perform well and earn a podium finish.