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BORN TO BE A FIGURE SKATER KATIE McGOVERN NYMAN'S FIGURE SKATING JOURNEY BY SUE DEWERFF CONTRIBUTOR
Katie McGovern Nyman Photography by Jason Hook
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iera’s Katie McGovern Nyman has performed in and coached figure skating shows around the world. At just 18, she began choreographing music and designing costumes for skaters of all ages in professional performances and competition. Shortly after immigrating to America from London in 2003, Nyman and her then three-year-old son, TommyJo, headed up the coast to Brevard. After landing the job as the director of the Theater on Ice Program in 2004 at the Rockledge venue, she has literally “hit the ice, running!” Her background, creativity and passion for the sport are what owner of the Space Coast Iceplex, Matt Smith, says makes her “the backbone of the rink.” Now 52, Nyman still skates with the grace and skill set of those who are half her age. And her enthusiasm, both on and off the ice, is an inspiration to both her students and the area’s figure skating community. “Sometimes my days are never ending. I’ve been known to find myself waking up in the middle of the night after thinking of an idea I could use for one of my teams’ performances.” Her mornings on the ice start at 5:45 a.m.; yes, before sunrise! After private lessons, usually until around 10 a.m., she is on the phone or e-mail, networking with parents or students, or choreographing music for the shows. Then it’s back on the rink from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. for lessons, group classes and the Theater on Ice team practices. Smith, who took over ownership of the Rockledge venue five years ago, said he is very fortunate to have Nyman at the helm of the figure skating programs here. “She is by far the busiest coach we have. She encapsulates both the artistic and business side of the sport. Her hard work and never give-up attitude are second to none.” Nyman, who grew up near London and began figure skating as a teen, said she was forced to become somewhat self-sufficient at an early age after losing her father. Her first job, working as a bank teller, became a way for her to learn quickly the importance of saving money and hard work ethics. “Thankfully, I gained support for my skating through 30 : S PAC E COA ST L IV I N G | S PAC ECOA ST L I V I N G .CO M
many of my colleagues and bosses there. I was a fighter and determined not to give up my goals. The ice was kind of like a sanctuary where I could escape my fears and just do what I loved,” said Nyman. After proving her worth on the Isle of Wight rink in England she became the director of the figure skating there. Her experience and knowledge of the sport has been instrumental in leading the Space Coast Iceplex Theater on Ice skaters’ to wins at both national and international events. In fact, the teams, known as the “Space Coast Frozen Hurricanes,,” have been the only teams from Florida who have attended the competition for the past 12 years since its inception. A form of competitive figure skating popular in Europe and known as a ballet on ice, Theater on Ice merges