Olympians Gabriella Papadakis and Kaitlyn Weaver spoke on sport activism and social justice in figure skating at the U of M on Nov. 4 in Room 220 of the Active Living Centre.
The discussion, hosted by Tina Chen, vice-provost equity, and Douglas Brown, dean of the faculty of kinesiology and recreation management, explored how gender, queer identities and inclusive leadership are reshaping the world of figure skating.
Opening the event, Chen reflected on how the history of skating can be examined through the concept of “immanent critique,” which holds a discipline accountable to its ideals. She emphasized that sports cannot be separated from the bodies and identities that bring them to life, and that these conversations are essential to understanding how gender and history shape skating today.
Weaver shared her journey of coming out as a queer athlete, discussing the challenges she faced with homophobia in the sport and the fear of losing her career. She described how joining Skate Canada’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee helped her recognize the power of using her voice to advocate for change. Through mentorship from Chen, she learned how empathy and open dialogue can foster understanding within communities. This experience inspired her to become a leading advocate for social justice in figure skating.
Papadakis spoke about navigating partnership dynamics and gendered expectations throughout her career and how these experiences motivated her to envision a skating culture that prioritizes safety, inclusion and learning. She also shared her ongoing efforts to make figure skating a space where young athletes can thrive without fear of judgment or exclusion.
The conversation focused on recent policy changes regarding gender definitions in pairs and dance teams. At Skate Canada, a proposal to allow any gender combination in pairs and dance teams was approved unanimously by the board, expanding opportunities for skaters of all gender identities. This change builds on the work of Weaver, who also serves on the International Skating Union (ISU) Ice Dance Technical Committee. The speakers noted that while Canada has embraced more inclusive practices, the ISU has been slower to adopt such changes.
The conversation concluded with Chen mentioning Papadakis’ upcoming book project and a discussion on how storytelling in figure skating can move beyond traditional romantic narratives to embrace more diverse expressions of artistry and connection.
The event is part of an ongoing collaboration between Chen, Papadakis, Weaver, Noam Gonick and David Churchill. They are developing a research project that examines how figure skating can reimagine traditional gender roles and artistic boundaries within the sport.
As part of the event, Papadakis and Weaver joined the Queer Community Skate on Nov. 6 at the Wayne Fleming Arena, which brought together students, staff and faculty for an inclusive community skating session.
