While many of us might think that as we age we have to give up some of the things we love, that isn’t necessarily true for everyone. That was the case for Yvonne Dowlen, who at 90 years old, was still ice skating and leaving people even half her age in the dust.
Dowlen is proof that age is no excuse not to do what you love — even if what you love is as physically demanding as competitive figure skating! Before she passed away in 2016 at the age of 90, Dowlen proved that her spirit was still incredibly young. In fact, she never officially retired from the sport she loved as she did it up until her last days.
Hailing from Colorado, Dowlen was born on July 5, 1925, and figured out her love of ice skating early on. She took up the sport as a child when she would visit Denver’s Evergreen Lake — which freezes over during the winter —and practice on weekends.
Years later, she turned her passion into a career. She began to perform in the Ice Capades, a touring ice show, in the 1930s and she remained with them for over 50 years. As an adult, she moved into a teaching role, where she worked with young figure skaters in Denver for decades.
She also loved competitive figure skating and it was something that she did all the way up until she passed away. As she skated in the 50 and older age group, Dowlen won many medals and showed up other skaters nearly half her age. Even at 90, she still skated up to five times a week!
As if that weren’t impressive enough, Dowlen spent her last years pursuing her goal to become the world’s oldest competitive figure skater ever. Figure skating was first recognized as an Olympic winter sport in 1908, but of course, it’s not limited to the Olympics. Various competitions exist for all levels, from novice to senior, and competitors usually perform one long program and one short program, which each require a set number of spins, jumps and other skating moves.
Even at her age, Dowlen never sold herself short and kept on doing all of the impressive moves we see younger competitive figure skaters perform. However, when she was 80, Dowlen was involved in a car accident that left her with a brain injury and nearly made her give up the sport. Doctors told her to hang up her skates for good but Dowlen never gave up. From the moment she could stand on her skates again, she recommenced her training. To appease doctors, she only dropped one move from her routine — the axel, which involves a jump into one and a half rotations mid-air.
For Dowlen, being on the ice was akin to breathing. She once said, “For me, itʼs very important just to stand on ice.” She also likened doctors telling her to give up the sport to “a red rag to a bull.” The fact that she didn’t give up her passion, even after doctors told her to is a testament to her perseverance. Furthermore, it’s evident just how much comfort she found in the strenuous sport. She explained:
“When Iʼm in a bad mood, I look at people my age with their oxygen pillows. Then I just put on my skates, and smile.”
Dowlen’s age certainly made her stand out among other skaters, but another aspect of her performances that was distinct to her was the way she incorporated classical music into her routines. For anyone watching her perform, Dowlen’s love of classical music was evident. Not only did she perform to classical music but she would incorporate hand gestures in time with the melody, as she glided across the ice. This was best seen when she lovingly bowed an air violin during her routine. Meanwhile, her outfit featured a black violin emblazoned on it.
That particular performance was incredibly inspiring, and not just because of her age. Dowlen proved she had all the right moves! More than that, she had a clear passion for skating and was able to show that in the truly engaging performance.
It’s no surprise then to learn that other people were interested in Dowlen’s story too. In 2016, two filmmakers from Boulder, CO, created a documentary about her journey titled “Edges.” Anyone who crossed her path knew that she was something special. The grace and passion she displayed in her skating should be an inspiration to us all. What’s more, her attitude to skating was something that served her well in life. She once said:
“If you enjoy being on ice, go all out and give it your best. But if youʼre not having fun while skating, just do something else.”
Dowlen will be remembered not only for her incredible physical feats on the ice but also for her zest for living. If you found her story inspiring be sure to check out the film made about her life.
Have you ever seen a 90-year-old figure skater or someone that age partaking in any competitive sport? What do you think about Yvonne Dowlen’s story? Let us know and if this inspired you, pass it on to those you know!
