One of the fastest Indians on ice, Stephen Paul Kilari has added another feather to his cap — coming 5th in the American Cup Championship that was held earlier this month, making it his best International Skating Union ranking. The skater has set his mind to not just qualify for the Winter Olympics of 2018, but also to emerge as one of the top 20 qualifiers in the 500 metre category. “The qualifying time for 500 metres is a 35.90 seconds and I am logging 36.46 now,” says Stephen, who trains for up to 11 hours a day at the Utah Olympic Oval, the fastest ice track in the world.
About his recent achievement, Stephen says, “Just three years ago, I came last in this championship. Last year, I came 10th and now, 5th, competing with 68 others.” Originally a roller skater, Stephen decided to switch to ice skating a few years ago. “A sportsperson’s career is very short and roller skating was not going to be an Olympic sport even until 2020 and I didn’t want to wait. My first coach on Ice, Derek Parra, also made this switch, so he would teach me using his personal experience. The challenge was to not let the moves of roller skating spoil my game here, and it took me three years to master that.”
Stephen started roller skating at the age of eight.
Stephen, who first put on skates when he was eight, has faced many challenges in life. He says, “In 2010, my father met with an accident and was critical. I was in Nagpur and my nationals were in two days. By the time I reached home, my father had passed away. After his funeral, I came back to Nagpur to participate because that’s what he’d have wanted. I won two golds and a silver medal, defeating a top skater that day.” Why does he love the sport so much, you ask? “I had many opportunities to give it up — I broke my hands and legs several times but I feel like I’m meant to skate.”
Stephen, who came fourth in the Asian Games, wants to re-open the orphanage his father and uncle used to run. “It stopped when my dad passed away. If I win the Olympics and get some recognision and funds, I’ll re-open it,” he says.
