Nicole Watt
Watt at the 2002 Canadian Championships | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Nicole Watt |
| Born | April 28, 1985 |
| Height | 1.52 m (5 ft 0 in) |
| Figure skating career | |
| Country | Canada |
| Skating club | Saskatoon FSC |
Nicole Yam (née Watt) is a Canadian former competitive figure skater. She is the 2001 Canadian national silver medalist and competed at the 2001 Four Continents Championships and three Grand Prix events.
Personal life
Yam was born in Melfort, Saskatchewan on April 28, 1985.[1] When she was eight years old, she was diagnosed with Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and began taking a powerful drug, which lessened but did not eliminate her symptoms.[2] She is a national spokesperson for the Canadian Arthritis Society.[3] In 2016, she earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Saskatchewan and currently works as a family doctor in Sylvan Lake, Alberta[4].
Skating Career
Yam began the CanSkate program at age seven or eight.[1][2] She landed her first triple, a Salchow, when she was twelve.[2] She first attracted national attention when she placed 4th on the senior level at the 2000 Canadian Championships. She was coached mainly by Dale Hazell and also trained with John Nicks in the summer of 2000.[5]
In autumn 2000, Yam received two ISU Junior Grand Prix assignments, competing in Mexico and China. In January 2001, she won the senior silver medal at Canadian nationals.[5] She was assigned to the 2001 Four Continents and finished 11th.
Yam made her senior Grand Prix debut the following season, competing at the 2001 Skate Canada International and 2001 Trophée Lalique. She was 4th at the 2002 Canadian Championships.
In late December 2002, her left knee was drained due to swelling caused by her arthritis.[2] She withdrew from the 2003 Canadian Championships after competing in the qualifying and short programs. In February 2003, Yam said that her disease was in remission and that she was off her medication and training on ice 3–4 hours a day.[2] Her condition subsequently deteriorated, causing her to leave skating and stay off the ice almost entirely for three and a half years until autumn 2008.[6] Although she attempted to make a comeback,[6] she did not qualify for the 2009 Canadian Championships.
Yam was one of the recipients of the 2004 Stacey Levitt Women and Sport and 2011 UCBeyond scholarships.[7][8]
Programs
| Season | Short program | Free skating | Exhibition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–03 [1][2] |
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| 2001–02 [9] |
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| 2000–01 [10] |
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Competitive highlights
GP: Grand Prix; JGP: Junior Grand Prix
| International[11] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | 1999–00 | 2000–01 | 2001–02 | 2002–03 |
| Four Continents | 11th | |||
| GP Cup of Russia | 11th | |||
| GP Skate Canada | 9th | |||
| GP Trophée Lalique | 11th | |||
| Nebelhorn Trophy | 11th | |||
| Schäfer Memorial | 10th | |||
| International: Junior[11] | ||||
| JGP China | 9th | |||
| JGP Mexico | 5th | |||
| Mladost Trophy | 3rd J | |||
| National[11] | ||||
| Canadian Champ. | 4th | 2nd | 4th | WD |
| J = Junior level; WD = Withdrew | ||||
References
- ^ a b c "Nicole WATT: 2002/2003". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on November 26, 2006.
- ^ a b c d e f Mittan, Barry (February 11, 2003). "Nicole Watt: Saskatoon's Skating Sweetheart". Golden Skate.
- ^ Wiseman, Greg (July 2, 2013). "Nicole Yam (Watt) inducted to MUCC Wall of Fame". Melfort Journal. Archived from the original on December 20, 2013.
- ^ "Dr. Nicole Yam - Family doctors - Doctors and Other Healthcare Providers In Alberta". Calgary Doctors. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ a b "Canadian 15-year-old Watt has bright figure skating future". CBC News. January 21, 2001.
- ^ a b Mitchell, Kevin (November 14, 2008). "Watt returns to ice". Saskatoon Star Phoenix. Canada.com. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012.
- ^ "2004 Recipients". Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity. Archived from the original on 2013-12-21. Retrieved 2013-12-21.
- ^ "U of S student, former figure skater receives scholarship". CTV News Saskatoon. October 20, 2011. Archived from the original on December 21, 2013.
- ^ "Nicole WATT: 2001/2002". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 2, 2002.
- ^ "Nicole WATT: 2000/2001". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on July 15, 2001.
- ^ a b c "Nicole WATT". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 28, 2016.
External links
- Nicole Watt at the International Skating Union
- Nicole Watt at Tracings