I’m Larissa, a senior synchronized skater with Team Unity — Australia’s national senior team. Alongside 17 of my teammates, I’m raising funds to represent Australia at the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships in April 2026 in Austria.

Synchronized skating is one of the most demanding and beautiful disciplines in figure skating. Sixteen athletes move as one, weaving, lifting, turning and gliding in perfect unison, combining the precision of ice dance, the athleticism of singles and pairs, and the artistry of performance. Yet despite its technical difficulty and global growth, it remains one of the least well-known ice sports in Australia.

That’s exactly why what we do matters so much.

Team Unity is Australia’s most successful senior synchronized skating team. We have proudly held the national title since 2017 and have represented Australia at the World Championships year after year, competing against the very best teams from powerhouse skating nations. Every time we step onto the ice in green and gold, we’re not just skating for ourselves, we’re skating for the future of the sport in Australia.

And that future is closer than ever.

Synchronized skating has recently taken a huge step forward globally, with the Synchro 9 discipline being included in the Winter Youth Olympic Games. This marks the first time synchronized skating has ever been part of an Olympic program, a historic milestone that brings the sport closer to eventual inclusion in the Winter Olympic Games. For athletes like me, that means what we’re building now has the power to shape the pathway for the next generation of skaters.

But competing on the world stage comes at a cost.

Synchronized skating is a fully self-funded sport in Australia. That means we, as athletes, cover everything - international flights, accommodation, coaching, choreography, costumes, competition fees, off-ice training, and countless hours of ice time. On top of that, Sydney has lost its Olympic-sized ice rinks, forcing our team to travel interstate to places like Canberra and Newcastle just to access full-size training facilities. We do this while balancing full-time work, study, and elite training schedules, because we believe in what we’re building.

Your support helps make this possible.

Every donation goes directly toward helping me, and my teammates, get to Austria in 2026, prepared, supported, and ready to perform at our very best. More than that, it helps ensure that Australia continues to have a place on the global synchronized skating stage, inspiring young skaters to dream bigger and proving that even in a small, emerging sport, Australians can compete with the world’s best.

Thank you for being part of this journey and for helping us keep chasing our world championship dream, together.