After overcoming a “very bad injury,” the young PEI figure skater is called Canada Games

Rowyn Reed-Jones won’t be representing Team PEI at the upcoming Winter Games in Canada, but not for lack of tries.

The 13-year-old suffered a hamstring tendon tear 16 months ago that fractured part of his pelvis, meaning he was unable to exercise for six months.

Rowyn returned to skating in Spring 2022 and competed all fall with excellent results but fell during the final skate of the selection competition meaning she is now the alternate behind two other Iceland skaters, Brenley Bissett and Daisy Li become.

“The injury happened on the second day of last season, so it was October 2021. They were outside at practice and Rowyn went into a sit rotation and suddenly couldn’t get up,” said Rowyn’s mother, Rebecca Reed-Jones.

“Over the course of about six weeks of physical therapy and after some X-rays, we actually found that the hamstrings had snapped off part of Rowyn’s pelvis,” Reed-Jones said.

“Unfortunately, it’s a very bad injury. It takes a lot of time. It took six months to heal.”

During this period of rehabilitation, Rowyn and the family knew the time was approaching for the Winter Games in Canada.

The COVID-19 pandemic had already put a loop on young skaters hoping to compete in 2023, and many were completing an at-home virtual off-ice training program to stay in shape.

Then came the injury for Rowyn.

“It was awful. It was the worst possible timing,” said Rebecca Reed-Jones. “Rowyn was in a great place to be on par for Canada Games and then it took all season. In this situation you see a loss of stamina and skills.”

risk of re-injury

Rowyn was back on the ice in March 2022 but everyone knew there was a high risk of re-injury.

“We had to take it slow, and Rowyn didn’t want to take it slow. Rowyn wanted to go back,” Reed-Jones said.

“There’s grief, there’s sadness, there’s anger that it’s happening to you, but then you have to sit there for six months and realize, ‘I’m not making any progress and everyone else is,’ and then try to get your head around it get space from ‘Can I make this comeback?’”

The story goes on

“After the injury, we talked a lot with Rowyn about the Canada Games and because time was so short, whether they still wanted to do it,” said Reed-Jones.

“I distinctly remember Rowyn saying, ‘Yeah, because if I don’t try, I don’t know how far I’ll get.'”

The Canada Games figure skating team selection process took place in the fall of 2022 and culminated in a final competition in January 2023.

A fall during one of the skates left Reed-Jones in third place, making her a backup.

Last chance

Rowyn and her family knew this was their last chance at the Canada Games.

“In the next four years I would be too old for that. So that’s the only chance I would get,” Rowyn said.

“Since I didn’t have much time, I needed as much time as I could to train as much as possible because I wasn’t where I needed to be, say, when it was under different circumstances.”

How did it feel to be appointed Deputy?

“Definitely disappointed because it felt like the last two years of training – with COVID and with the injury – felt like a waste in those few moments,” Rowyn said.

“But now I could see how far I’ve come, even if I didn’t make it.”

Coach JD Gilmour watched as Rowyn worked through the recovery process.

“Athletes are under a lot of stress, especially in preparation for the Games,” Gilmour said.

“It was really hard to somehow contain Rowyn’s urge to get back on the ice and train and make sure everything we did was always in her best interest.”

“It’s the nature of the sport that sometimes on the day when it matters you don’t have the skate you want and you accept that and move on,” Gilmour said.

“The Canada Games is an exciting opportunity, but it’s not the only exciting opportunity that comes up in sport and in life, so just focus on the rest.

“We build people, not just athletes, and life is full of little disappointments to work through. I’m so proud of Rowyn for all her accomplishments.”