by Anne Calder | Photos by Robin Ritoss

Fatima Gomez Sandoval is the first solo dancer to represent Mexico on the national and international level.

She is a Junior Solo Combined skater who trains with Kristen Frazier-Lukanin and Igor Lukanin at the Kriger Studio in Montclair, NJ.

Her story began when she was four years old. She went to a mall in Mexico City with her parents and saw a skating rink for the first time.

Five months later she made her competitive debut and continued skating singles until she was sixteen.

“It was better to train in the States,” Gomez Sandoval said. “I’ve been coming to different places in North America since I was four or five. I did Canada, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey.

“First I was a singles skater. Then I ran into a [medical] situation where they found four tumors in my left leg. There’s a part of my leg I don’t feel, and It eventually left me out of singles. I had to stop jumping.

“I was training at the Ice House in Hackensack, NJ back then. I was doing great. I was a Junior skater and went to the JGP in Turkey in 2023. It was awesome. When I came back I wanted to learn to dance. That’s when I found Kristen and Igor.”

In 2024, the International Skating Union (ISU) officially recognized Solo Dance as an International discipline.

“Before I began representing Mexico in Solo Dance, I met with the Federation,” Gomez Sandoval explained. “They knew everything about my health, and that my strongest skating had always been performing. Actually, I was never a strong jumper. They said I could start as a Junior.”

Coincidentally, during the analysis of her 2023 JGP Free Dance in Turkey, Ted Barton had suggested Gomez Sandoval’s pure enjoyment for performance would make her a potential partner for someone conducting an ice dance search.

Gomez Sandoval competed at several domestic and international events during the 2025 season.

She represented the Mexican Federation of Ice Skating and Winter Sports at three 2025 SDS events: Morris Open, Dallas Classic and Lake Placid Championships and two international events: Atlanta, USA and  Helsinki, FIN. She also skated at the 9th Mexican Open Skating Competition in May.

“I don’t actually live in New Jersey full time,” she said. “I come and go. I was there for two months, then I went back home for three months. I’m trying to finish high school, and it’s difficult to get everything done in the U.S. Also, my family is in Mexico.”

“One thing I do find funny when I return to Mexico City and train solo with all the freestyle skaters is everyone jumping,” she laughed. “I wonder to myself if I am missing something.

“My friends back home are so supportive of what I’m doing. They are so happy for me because they always knew I was a big performer.”

“When I skated freestyle, I never fell. I was a big popper,” Gomez Sandoval explained. “My mom was so terrified she couldn’t watch. My first solo competition she watched me live, and I cried. In May I skated back home in Mexico. It was not a competition. I cried because I was so happy that I got to enjoy my moment [in Mexico], and it felt so special. I’m so happy my mom also got to enjoy that.”

“I did a competition in Finland. My entire family was there, and I fell while doing absolutely nothing,” Gomez Sandoval said. “My mom was so sad for me. It was on a spread eagle. The ice was slippery and new. I hit the wall. My blade went into my thigh, and I cut myself. I got up and wanted to start again.

“My mother reminded me that it was my first season, and next season I’d be more competitive.”

“I’m glad to be enjoying skating again. I’m excited for next season. It’s going to be a great journey.”

Fatima Gomez Sandoval

Fatima’s Final Facts…

My parents don’t watch my skating together. My mom goes to one place; my dad goes to another.

Madison Hubbell and Adrian Diaz are my favorite skaters ever. I know they are not a skating couple, but when I watch them separately, I love their skating.

Brooke Tufts is not only a mentor in skating. She’s like my big sister.

For me to be here in Lake Placid is a dream. I told my mom that this is where I’m supposed to be. I feel I’m fitting in with the people who are here.

Solo Dance is another way to show how beautiful skating is. We forget skating is not only jumping and seeing who can rotate more in the air. It’s more about the beauty of skating. There are so many beautiful skaters who can’t shine because jumps are the only way. Solo Dance is the best thing that has happened to me this past year.