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Sarah van Berkel
Art on Ice young talents 2024
Top-class sport is a full-time job – not just for the athletes themselves, but for the whole family. We asked Corinne Weiler, mother of figure skating hopeful and “Art on Ice young talent” Ean Weiler, 17, how they are supported, what their biggest challenges are and how they find combining school and competitive sport.
Corinne Weiler, mother of Ean, 17:
Corinne Weiler, what are the biggest challenges for your son as a top athlete and for you as a mother?
The biggest challenge in figure skating has always been juggling school, sport and personal life. Ean wouldn’t have been able to pursue his dream if the whole family hadn’t pulled together and adapted their lives to the training schedule and volume over the last six years. This meant an end to holidays; we used his training camps as a “break”, although we were always busy there too. Things have been different since Ean changed where he lives and trains (to Champéry). I’m no longer involved in organisation and planning. I think that also took a lot of pressure off Ean because he realised how stressed we were at times.Now I’m just happy that he can enjoy what he wants to do with his life.
How can you overcome these challenges?
I now take it in my stride and know that we have great support from the team at CP Champéry. Of course, Ean and I really appreciate that. Managing everything on your own is nerve-wracking and incredibly energy-sapping. Especially if, like me, you don’t come from a performance sports background and have to manage everything associated with performance sport alongside your full-time job.
What are the particular difficulties in figure skating and in Switzerland – compared to other sports or countries – in order to become a world champion?
The financial aspect is definitely a problem. I now have a direct comparison with the financial support for athletes from abroad, and Switzerland is worse by far. If you don’t personally constantly seek and ask for support, there are no opportunities for sponsorship, which is very unfortunate for the athletes. Sport is their day-to-day “job”, and they have to do it all on a voluntary basis. Ean knows that I would go above and beyond to help him on his way. But this has absolutely nothing to do with fairness and equality. A family without these financial resources cannot afford performance sport at all, even though the daughter or son might have the talent and ability for it. I think that’s a terrible shame.
How important do you think targeted and early development of young talent is for the long-term development and success of young people in sport?
There is nothing more important than developing young talent. You also have to advertise this clearly. Young athletes are currently very much left to their own devices, especially when it comes to active mental support and physical checks. People still look away too often when difficulties arise or notice them far too late.
There is also too little monitoring of mental abuse, which is a major issue when children are growing up. This is mainly from parents, but also from some coaches. I hope that more attention will be paid to this issue to protect all our children.
How, specifically, are you supported, financially or otherwise?
The Swiss Ice Skating Association supports us with competition fees and accommodation costs during the competitions, as well as with small contributions for top ten placings. “Sporthilfe” provides us with the sponsorship project platform, but unfortunately Ean has not yet found a sponsor. Ean has benefited the most from Art on Ice; he has gained self-confidence, learnt not to be shy in front of the camera and not to be afraid of an audience. Of course, nervousness is part of every competition. However, he no longer sees it as “unpleasant”, but rather as something that is part of it and which he can accept as something positive. Otherwise, Ean does not currently receive any financial support. We receive many refusals in response to requests and have not yet found a sponsor or partner who is willing to go down this route with Ean. It is very disappointing.
How do you successfully coordinate training, school and sport? Is it possible to take time off from school for training or competitions?
I know from experience that different school leadership teams have different attitudes to absences and dispensations. We were very lucky, especially at primary school; their attitude was very understanding, which helped Ean enormously. We had to fight for understanding in upper school, but in the end we managed to reach an agreement with the school management. However, it is practically impossible to reconcile state school and performance sport, which is why Ean took time out after completing secondary school A and now wants to attend a private grammar school. This enables him to complete his secondary school diploma by studying from home, so that he is able to combine training and school in the best possible way. Unfortunately, the state school system does not allow this for all sports.
To what extent has Art on Ice’s support via “Art on Ice young talents” helped you?
Ean has grown from the experience and has found his voice. I don’t think he would have been able to make the decision to move to Valais on his own without Art on Ice. Art on Ice has given him self-confidence and shown him what he needs to fulfil his dream. He also has the necessary self-confidence to take the next step in his life with regard to his sporting career. He needed interaction with other athletes as a kind of confirmation for himself.
The “Art on Ice young talents” programme supports up-and-coming figure skating talent to realise their potential. The talents are given the opportunity to take part in events such as Art on Ice, which focus on fun, entertainment and personal development. The aim of the project is to provide additional support to the Swiss Ice Skating Association and to provide experience for a successful and long competitive career.
Being a young talent in the main show of Art on Ice and receiving support throughout the year? A dream of many young talents. Art on Ice and AXA Switzerland made this possible for the first time with a casting in autumn 2023 in collaboration with Swiss Ice Skating.
Sarah van Berkel, formerly Meier, became European figure skating champion in 2011, is now a journalist and is responsible for athlete management and the “young talents” project at Art on Ice. The 40-year-old is a “Gfrörli”, she loves coffee and is addicted to nuts.
