Starr Andrews Becomes First Black US Figure Skater To Win Grand Prix Medal
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Starr Andrews has made history at Skate Canada in Mississauga, Ontario. She now holds the title as the first Black US figure skater to win an ISU Grand Prix medal since the series began in 1995.
“I can’t even put into [words] how I feel right now!!” Andrews excitedly wrote on Instagram. “I couldn’t be more proud of how I skated in Canada. Thank you to all the support I’ve gotten even on the skates that weren’t my best. This is a dream come true.”
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According to PopSugar, on Saturday (Oct. 29) Andrews performed a beautiful free skate to Belgian singer Lara Fabian’s rendition of “Je Suis Malade.” The California-native placed second with a total score of 191.26. Reportedly, she executed six triple jumps, including a double axel euler triple salchow.
“I think it’s a huge deal, to be a woman of color in figure skating,” Andrews told Team USA in regards to making history and diversifying the sport. “I’m so proud I could represent. [It makes] bringing home a medal even more special . . . I actually still feel like it’s a dream.”
She added: “I’ve gone into this year with a different mindset, trying to not be so caught up in my head. It helps a lot when I don’t think so much. It’s definitely paid off, even though my season didn’t start off so strong [at Nebelhorn Trophy in September]. I was still getting used to my programs.”
Per the outlet, the figure skater’s win follows a surgery she had last year to remove an extra nerve near her heart that was causing her anxiety and difficulty breathing.
Andrew first gained viral notoriety at 9 years old when her 2010 performance to Willow Smith’s “Whip My Hair,” went viral. She also made her mark as a sensational figure skater when she performed a creative set to Mickey Guyton’s “Black Like Me” and “At Last” by Etta James at Skate America 2021.
Watch Andrews’s winning performance above.
