Colchester schoolgirl dreams of roller-skating at World Cup

Kyla Mongan, a Year 10 pupil at Thomas Lord Audley School, is hoping to follow her British success in the sport with world success when she takes part in the World Cup in Italy next month.

Kyla first took up the sport, which is roller-skating set to a musical performance, when she was just six years old.

From there, she has gone from strength to strength with a World Cup appearance last year before later being named British Champion.

Kyla, who trains at the Roller-Skating Family club at Manningtree and East Bergholt, is also believed to be the youngest girl in Britain to land a double axel on roller skates – something she is hoping to replicate in front of a world stage in Trieste.

Focused - Kyla Mongan at a previous skating event (Image: The Mongan Family)

She said: “I have always loved performing in front of people and I’m really looking forward to the World Cup. I will be a bit nervous, but also very proud to represent Great Britain.”

Kyla’s dedication to the sport has seen her family pull out all the stops, even when her national and international career was temporarily halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

She explained: “Ever since I started, I was hooked.

“I have practiced really hard, and I have had fantastic support from my family.

“My dad even built a rink at our home in Colchester so I could practice during lockdown.

“I would also like to thank all the help and support I have had from my coaches, including Chris Fox, and all the staff at Thomas Lord Audley School.”

GoFundMe launched

Kyla’s family has now started a GoFundMe page to help her fulfil her dream of skating at the World Cup.

A message on the page from the family reads: “Please help Kyla skate at the World Cup in Trieste Italy in May.

“Kyla has worked so hard to get to this stage. She is an inspiration to all young adults.

“We are so very proud of her and would ask for any donations to help pay for all the fees to get her there.

To donate, visit shorturl.at/lx168.