FROM BUENOS AIRES TO WORLD STAGE: FORMER LINCOLN LEARNER’S ARTISTIC ROLLER SKATING JOURNEY

Isabella Poppe, who studied at Lincoln for 6 years, represented the U.S.A at the World Skate Games Italia 2024. Learn about the experience of a young and talented promise!

“When I think of my childhood, skating at Club Belgrano with my best friends is what I think of.” This is how Isabella Poppe, former Lincoln student, remembers her time in Argentina. Now, as an adult, skating has gained a professional look in her life. Last September, Isabella took part in the World Skate Games Italia 2024, as a member of the artistic roller skater team Quartet Nova, representing the USA. 

The event had 12 skating wheel sports, with athletes from 90 countries displaying their talents and had work in nine Italian cities. “We are beyond happy to have come this far,” expressed Quartet Nova on their official Instagram account after achieving the 11th place out of 18 teams in the Senior Quartet. This World championship awarded 154 titles to 40 nations, with Italy on the lead, followed by Colombia, and Spain.

Her passion for artistic skating started when she moved to Argentina in 2014. While she attended Grade 3 at Lincoln, she would also go to Club Belgrano to discover the magic of patinaje artístico. Little did she know that this would lead her to winning two National Competitions: third place in 2018 and first place in 2019. That year would be the last in Argentina and Lincoln, but also the first step into what would become an impressive journey. We interviewed her to get to know her amazing experience in the world of artistic skating. 

How was the experience of being part of such competition?

We skated on the last day of the competition, so we were at home training for a week before we made our way to Italy. During that time of waiting we were getting ourselves super excited as we were watching all the live videos of our teammates. Once there, we were training 2 hours in the morning and in the evening we were at the venue cheering on team US and other skaters. The day of the competition we had our official training which is a 15 minute practice where your team gets to run through your technical elements and run your program on the official floor of the competition. This allows you to visualize yourself on the floor and work out any spacing modifications that are needed. 

After our official training we started doing hair and makeup which took us about 4 hours. Because Quartet is a show event, part of our score is our physical appearance which means our makeup and hair must match our theme and enhance our expression. Once we got done getting ready we started warming up which included running our program off skates with the music and visualizing the routine in our heads. Since we were getting close to show time, we all knew that nerves can get the best of us, so we learned to keep to ourselves and stay calm so we don't make each other anxious. Part of this is knowing when something needs to be said and when something is better to be withheld. When it is close to show time it is better to hold on to your thoughts so you don't worry or make another teammate over think.

Before going on stage, our coach told each one of us something that we have done great with this season so we can use our personal strengths to help push the performance. Coach Tricia told me that I did a great job with expression and poise this season so when I stepped on the floor that's what I embraced.

How was the preparation towards the competition?

It was very rigorous. After skating Nationals and qualifying for worlds in July, we were training 5 days a week with a mixture of on skates and off skates sessions. Because roller rinks aren't as common anymore in the US, many times we have to drive 90 minutes to a rink where we can train. Working on our program consisted of perfecting our elements, not only making sure the execution is as high as it could be but increasing the quality. We worked on getting our formations and transitions clean, fast, effortless, and controlled. We added final touches that carried the story line and made it more intricate. We got our edges deeper and got everything more in sync.

How did your relationship with skating start?

I started skating when I was 8 within the first year of me living in Buenos Aires. Before leaving the US I grew up tumbling, I loved to jump and bend, so my family and I became members of Club Belgrano so I could continue doing a sport. There, the most common sports for girls my age were tennis and 'patinaje artistico'. Since skating was more similar to tumbling we thought we would give it a try. My coach was Florencia Sacchero who qualified for World championships when she was very young. I started with just going on the weekends, then 4 days a week, and before I knew it, skating was more to me than just a hobby. I fell in love with the sport, my friends, and my coach. 

Three years later, I skated at my first competition (amistoso). At the time I was just doing single jumps and struggling to hold my spins for long enough, but I loved being on the competition floor in my skating dress. As the years went on, my teammates were my sisters. We did everything together on and off the floor. We traveled to Córdoba, Santa Fe, and La Rioja for competitions. 

In 2019 my family and I moved back to the Chicago area and at first I wasn't sure if I was going to find a rink where I could train because artistic roller skating isn't as common in the US. After doing some research we found Lombard Roller Rink. It took me a while to get used to it. I went from group classes to private lessons, concrete floor to hardwood. After a year, I progressed exponentially. My coaches, Jim Mueller and Tricia Molnar were understanding, supportive, and methodical. If my jump or spin wasn't working, they would find a new way to explain or research more about the physics behind the element so they could help me the best they could. Also skating at Lombard were Anne, Caroline, and Liza. Although we were all shy at first we grew to be best friends. Doing a sport competitively that is more inferior to others in the US allowed us to bond over that. 

How did Quartet Nova come to be?

After 2 years of being at Lombard Roller Rink, in 2021, my choreography coach, Tricia asked if I would like to take part in a quartet with the girls. I said yes without knowing what I was getting myself into and I'm so glad I did. Since quartet is a show event and I was used to skating freestyle for 8 years, there was a lot I needed to learn. I went from focusing on jumps and spins to turns, expression, and edges. Not only that, but I had to learn how to skate with other people and do it synchronized. 

That same year we started, we qualified for the 2022 World Skate Games in Buenos Aires, then the following year in Ibague, Colombia and this year in Rimini, Italy. Unfortunately, our home rink closed in 2023 but we relocated and continued skating together. Quartet is what made me push skating professionally. I love jumping and spinning, and I will continue to do freestyle until I retire, but working as a team for the same goal is just so rewarding and fulfilling. Even though we have our struggles with communication sometimes, part of being in a quartet is learning to work through that. Quartet also has a form of creativity that other skating events don't have and I think that truly makes it competitive.

How do you remember your years in Lincoln?

My years at Lincoln were very memorable. I truly mean it when I say that I felt at home at Lincoln. The staff, faculty, teachers, classmates from different grades treat you like family. No matter who you are, what language you speak, your religion, your passions. Lincoln will welcome you and you will feel at home. Skating isn't a sport that I could play in school but yet the teachers and my classmates would support me. I still remember sitting in Mrs. Urcullu's classroom and talking about my skating practices, camps, and competitions. I looked forward to her class because she cared about me not only as a student but as a person with a passion and goals. 

Lincoln also allowed me to explore my artistic abilities through after school activities. Throughout elementary school I did cheer and gymnastics at Lincoln. I loved flipping and being on stage with my friends. The teachers would also be super supportive of my skating and taught me ways I could use all sports to complement each other. 

Lastly, Lincoln exposed me to a diverse range of cultures, languages, and perspectives early on which taught me how to adapt to different communication styles, appreciate cultural nuances, and build relationships with people of other backgrounds. Now I appreciate everything I learned at Lincoln because it allowed me to connect and understand skaters at the international level. This has opened doors for me to live abroad and train in Italy for 2 months. Without my passion and drive to learn from different people and other cultures, I wouldn't have had the courage to go abroad.

What are your plans for the future?

I'm currently studying to become a Registered Dietitian with a specialization in sports and international nutrition. My plans are to continue giving back to the skating community by coaching the kids class in hopes of starting coaching the younger divisions. A very important factor in keeping the sport alive in the US is for older athletes to help and coach the younger skaters so I hope to do that in the future.