The Dunedin figure skater is breaking the ice this season as she glides through the ranks to reach new heights.
After 18 months of hard work, Cathro was recently awarded a gold free skate — the second-highest level available for figure skaters — after completing two rigorous tests.
The 16-year-old completed her stroking test, which included about six different patterns including difficult turns and movements, at the Corinne Gilkison Cup in Dunedin. She then submitted her free skate, a choreographed piece from her own programme, for testing from the Queenstown championships last month.
Cathro, who is coached by Sarah Macgibbon and Ricky Cockerill, was delighted to reach the mark.
"I think it was quite rewarding," Cathro said.
"When you get gold, that means you can go on the highest grade in figure skating."
The Columba College athlete is undefeated in the junior women’s grade this season, including titles at the Otago-Southland, Ice Sports Southland, Christchurch Club, Queenstown Club and South Island championships, and the Corinne Gilkison Cup.
She was riding high heading into the national championships in Auckland earlier this month, but was struck down with illness that ruled her out of the remaining competition.
"Unfortunately on the plane I got a chest infection.
"I wasn’t allowed to compete in my second-day programme, so nationals this year wasn’t the best, but other than that this season was pretty good."
National selectors still recognised Cathro’s talent and hard work through the season, granting her an exemption to be named in the International B team of representative skaters.
Dunedin is well represented among the squad with Mihi Parkinson (basic novice girls), Olivia Dickson (intermediate novice girls), Lilah Langi-Scott (advanced novice girls) and team Cutting Edge (senior elite 12 synchronised) named as well.
Parkinson, Dickson, Langi-Scott, Cutting Edge and Evie Foote (elementary under-12) have also been named in the national development squad.
Cathro has been dedicated to her craft for the past 14 years and trains six times a week, on and off the ice, and is showing no sign of slowing down.
"I guess throughout my entire time skating, [there’s been] a lot of ups and downs. But I would say the ups are so rewarding.
"Learning a new jump or achieving your best or skating clean — it makes everything worthwhile.
"And then also the fact that I genuinely really love my sport."
