Concussion ends season early for Bombardier

Krystal Yeung

Sports Editor

Canadian figure skater Fiona Bombardier fell badly while performing a jump in practice, which led to a concussion. She initially thought she was okay, but the situation was more severe than she thought.

“The only reason I cried is not being able to go to the competition, not even because of the pain,” Bombardier said.

The nationals bronze medalist’s concussion cost her a ticket to last month’s 2023 Coupe de Printemps in Kockelscheuer, Luxembourg, and next week’s 2023 ISU World Team Trophy in Figure Skating in Tokyo.

The University of Toronto’s Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education said in a written statement that a concussion is “a type of brain injury that requires immediate and appropriate medical evaluation.”

“If you suspect a player has been concussed, he or she should be removed and not returned to practice or play until medically cleared to do so,” they said.

Bombardier said she fell on her jump in practice four weeks ago, and she was “not fully cleared from the doctor.”

She was practicing her Triple Lutz and tossed herself onto the ice because of too much momentum, she said.

“It always happens on the easier things, on the comfort elements, because you are not thinking as much,” Bombardier said.

She thought it was just another fall, which happens daily for figure skaters, she said.

Bombardier said she was feeling unwell after the fall and felt lightheaded, and realized she couldn’t walk in straight lines.

She then went to the sports doctor, and was told she showed symptoms of a concussion.

“I was kind of upset that my chances of competing were very low,” Bombardier said. “The doctors were trying to be nice, but as an athlete, you know if you are able to or not.”

Her coach, Bruno Massot, was exploring the chances of sending her to World Team Trophy in Tokyo with Skate Canada, she said.

However, the concussion took the opportunity away.

She also had to skip her first senior competition, the 2023 Coupe de Printemps, she said.

The International Skating Union also announced on April 4, 2023, that the entries for Team Canada women’s singles at World Team Trophy were Sara-Maude Dupuis and Madeline Schizas. Bombardier’s name was not there.

She said the concussion prevented her from showcasing everything she had been working towards.

“They knew I wouldn’t be ready for this competition,” Bombardier said.

She said she took three days off the ice, and was only allowed to do minimal activity after resuming.

Bombardier said she worried she would lose her ability to perform triples and triple-triple combination jumps, she said.

All her skills are back, but she is doing fewer repetitions and playing it safe, Bombardier said.

Above all, Bombardier has decided to move on and set her sights on the future season.

She plans to compete in open internationals in the United States over the summer to earn a qualifying score for

Grand Prix, Bombardier said. She said she will keep attempting the Triple Axel once she is fully cleared from medical attention.

There are people who shy away from difficult jumps after injuries, but Bombardier said she believed that practice leads to improvement.

“You just have to trust yourself, and muscle memory will take over,” she said.