Inside Elite Figure Skating & Life Beyond The Rink.
Episode: #020.
Toni Cooke.Athlete: Former Elite Figure Skater.
What does it really take to become an elite figure skater?
In this episode of Almost Pro, we sit down with Toni Cooke, a former elite figure skater who represented Great Britain for seven years, competed internationally, and medalled at the British Championships.
From 5am rink mornings to international competition, Toni shares what life inside elite figure skating actually looks like. She breaks down training demands, competition nerves, judging systems, rankings, testing, and the funding realities that shape high performance pathways.
Toni also opens up about the cultural pressures within figure skating, how those pressures affected her relationship with the sport, and why she ultimately chose to step away. We explore her transition into professional ice shows, her move to Australia, and how she built a new career in sport beyond competition.
Today, Toni leads the Women & Girls portfolio for Tennis Australia in Queensland, working across gender equity, inclusion, and leadership pathways.
This conversation explores identity, transition, and how the lessons of elite sport carry into life beyond performance.
In this episode, we discuss:
• Training and competition in elite figure skating
• Why competition is the best form of practice
• Rankings, testing, and international judging systems
• Funding realities and self funded elite pathways
• Culture, comparison, and loss of passion in high performance sport
• Turning professional and stepping away from competition
• Building a meaningful career after elite sport
Stream Episode. 45:34mins.
