Backflipping figure skater hopes to inspire generation of BIPOC skaters

MONTREAL – Elladj Balde is a world-class figure skater and he’s using his online fame to help encourage people of colour to follow their figure skating dreams.

Balde is the child of Russian and Guinean parents. He and his family immigrated to Montreal when he was a toddler.

He started skating at the age of six and he’s now reaching millions with his skating videos on frozen lakes.

@elladjbaldeshould I start a series of “finding ice” videos? ##calgary ##ramsay ##figureskating ##doublebackflip ##findingice ##backflip ##craveyou♬ original sound – Elladj Balde

“Growing up as a biracial skater–also a visibly Black male in figure skating–having the lack of representation in the sport didn’t allow me to embrace the things that were different about me, embrace the things that were unique about me,” said Balde.

He says he was made fun of for doing what his tormenters called “a girl sport”.

“It’s false. It’s unfortunate because you see a lot of boys leaving the sport because they are tired of being bullied or made fun of. I tried to fit within the mold of figure skating that’s based in white, European, elitist kind of environment.”

WATCH: Full interview with figure skater Elladj Balde

He says his mom was always right behind him, encouraging even when he was close to giving up.

@elladjbaldeBehind the scenes from my shoot with Paul Zizka at Lake Minnewanka ##mountains ##wildice ##backflip ##photographytricks♬ original sound – aarlandoblackmon

“She was the one that really pushed me to continue to train and get better. There were times when I didn’t necessarily feel like I wanted to continue or felt that it was my place but my Mom always persevered. She motivated me to keep going. I owe it all to her. She is the reason why I’m living from it now and I’m so passionate about it.”

Chances are you’ve seen some of his popular videos, including ones of him backflipping mid-skate and dancing on lakes in the Banff-Lake Louise area.

He has found some fame online with widely-shared Instagram videos, a popular TikTok account, celebrity shout-outs, and a few features in other publications. And now he hopes to use that following to inspire the next generation of skaters who might not “fit the mold”.

 

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“I just hope to continue to inspire the next generation of Black, Indigenous, people of colour (BIPOC) to come into this sport and hopefully in five years we can see the sport look different on the national level, and even in the world level and see diversity and skaters really embrace the things that are unique about them,” he said.

“So, I’m continuing on this mission and I’m committed to making this sport more diverse and being the representation for the next generation of skaters and hopefully through that, they can believe in themselves that they can be successful as well.”