"We were immediately on the same level, we really clicked, said Colling. They began to skate together but at that point we hadn't seen any other same-gender skating teams. But this year, the retired Olympic champions Madison Hubbell and Gabriella Papadakis performed together, hoping to help break gender stereotypes in the sport. Colling said: It was completely new and we were, whoa, OK."
"It was a common misconception that same-sex teams were gay or in a relationship, she added. There are lots of queer athletes, and we really admire them. But it's not the case that in order to be in a non-traditional team you have to be queer. Aalto said: The point is to be opening possibilities for everyone, not just for queer people. Ice dancing with a same-sex partner was not necessarily any different, she said."
"The pair said they were best friends that want to skate together. Their request was supported by their coach, Neil Brown, who helped persuade the skating federation to agree new rules, referring to ice dance partners as Skater A and Skater B instead of man and woman. Colling, an art student, enrolled at skating school a year after her family moved to Finland, and Aalto, a fashion student, has been skating since she was five years old."
Millie Colling, 20, and Emma Aalto, 19, will compete in a qualifier for the Finnish national ice dance championships after securing a rule amendment. Their coach, Neil Brown, persuaded the skating federation to redefine partners as Skater A and Skater B instead of man and woman. Colling was born in Gateshead, moved to Finland at six, and began skating a year later. Aalto has skated since age five and studies fashion. The pair met two years ago, train in Helsinki, emphasize that same-sex partnerships do not imply sexual orientation, and aim to open possibilities for all athletes.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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