Skater Kayleen Vance.
Camera IconSkater Kayleen Vance. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Speed skater shows great determination

Lauren PilatWanneroo Times

The 15-year-old speed skater, who trains at Rollerzone in Malaga, returned from the 2015 Australian National Road Championships in Melbourne as a gold and bronze medallist.

Vance has been training for only nine months and has racked up 10 state and national medals for road and indoor events, winning gold in the 200 metre and bronze for the 500m road time trial at nationals in January.

The Year 10 Mercy College student’s determination to succeed was shown after she got up from a fall which split her chin open during a road race.

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‘When I was racing, I heard the times because each 100m they announce the times and I knew I really needed to go faster,’ she said.

‘On the last lap I was pushing myself really hard and I fell over. I was thinking of just going faster.

‘I knew I was going pretty fast and I thought maybe I could place but I didn’t.

‘I was really annoyed at myself when I came down because that was my event.

‘I got back up because I wanted to finish.’

Splitting her chin open has not stopped Vance from seeking speed; her dream now is to become the fastest female skater.