From a six year old on skates to a seasoned veteran participating in artistic skating competitions nationwide, senior Hannah Garrett was elated to find out that she, alongside her fellow quartet team members, had qualified for a spot to compete in the World Championship in Barcelona for artistic roller skating.

“Actually finding out that I made it did not seem real at all because it’s like this is what you’ve been working for your whole life,” Hannah said.

Hannah says that making it to the World Championship has been a dream of hers since the start of her career, and being on a quartet has given her the chance to go to Worlds, as she doesn’t normally skate World Class outside of this event.

She and her quartet have been practicing for the World Qualifiers since October of 2018 and competed in it in April of 2019. Hannah and her quartet scored first place in the qualifier and officially made the senior world class team representing the U.S.. This means her quartet is the number one quartet in America because of their placement.

“It was absolutely insane because, ever since I was little, obviously, Worlds has been the dream,” Hannah said. “Me qualifying for worlds is what I have been looking for my entire life because that is the highest competition you can go for (in this sport).”

The World Competition will involve a two-and-a-half minute skating routine with her and her quartet. During the performance, music that ties in with the prepared routine will play, and the members will wear outfits tailored to the performance.

To prepare for the strenuous routine, Hannah travels every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday to a skating club in Illinois called Lynwood Skate Club. There, she meets her coach and the other members of the quartet and practices for three to four hours to work on matching, lifting and footwork as a team. Afterward, they do additional workouts like conditioning, running laps around the rink, endurance exercises and agility training.

“When you get to a world level, the intensity of practice (rises),” Hannah said. “You have to escalate your game.”

Another reason for her constant trips to Lynwood Skate club is a need to represent a club, as it is a requirement to competitively skate . Hannah also mentions that many rinks in Indiana don’t support this artistic skating anymore.

To help with things like footwork and turns, her dad, Rick Garrett, who also skates, coaches Hannah on her quartet routine and other, side solo events: Sophomore A Solo Dance and International Solo Free Dance, currently.

“She obviously has been influenced by my skating and my involvement, but she has kind of gone to a different level than (me),” Rick Garrett said.

Rick says that he has been Hannah’s coach since the very beginning and has continued to work with her on the individual skating she does. He mentions that he is proud of his daughter for making it to the World Competition.

“A part of me also thinks (skating is) in my blood,” Hannah said. “I know that some people might not believe in that, but I honestly do.”

Hannah says that her dad grew up as a World Class skater when he has younger, which is when he started getting Hannah into the sport. She says that her dad has been her biggest supporter both in her physical skating and mentally throughout her skating career, especially now with Worlds right around the corner.

According to Hannah, the World Games are scheduled for July-5, and she’ll skate with her team on July 13.

“The skating part in general will obviously give me an experience that not a lot of skaters get to experience,” Hannah said. “But, since this (is) probably my last year since I am going to college, I just think it’s gonna be a really good way to end with a bang.”