Segen Habtemichael, The Ice Queen, wins in a national competition

By meadna News

03/07/08

Segen Habtemichael, the first Eritrean in the National Ice Skating competition, won a competition against older age group that was held in Alexandra Palace. (watch below for a video) Described as “The Ice Queen out of Africa” by the British Newspapers, Segen has also won silver and gold and bronze medals to her name after passing all the National Ice Skating Association’s ice dance tests, which allowed her to compete in the 2008 British Solo Ice Dance Championship competition.

Speaking to Meadna News, Pamela Rhodes, Segen’s ice dance coach, said : “Segen was one of the youngest competitors to enter the Novice solo ice dance competition which is for skaters under the age of 12. At only 9 it is quite an achievement to even qualify to enter as it is necessary to pass at least 6 NISA (National Ice Skating Association) ice dance tests before competing at that level.”

After the game, Segen, the winner, proceeded to claim her trophy accompanied by her coach, friends and mother and one of her strongest supporters and uncle, Mebrahtu Welday, a veteran Eritrean fighter. Segen told Meadna that her wish was to play in the Olympics and represent her country.

When asked for advice for other children who aspire to succeed in skating or other chosen areas, Pamela Rhodes said: “In order to succeed it is important to keep trying and be prepared to take some risks to push yourself beyond your comfort zone, as well as to be able to deal with failure constructively – learning from your mistakes and always striving to be better next time. To any other children (or indeed adults) wanting to skate I’d say please give it a go as it’s a great sport and you never know what you can achieve until you try. Be prepared to put in lots of practice and work hard, but most importantly enjoy the sport and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Segen’s early visits to the ice rink resulted in her falling constantly (probably more than most) but her determination not to give up has got her to where she is today, and as a happy and confident child she has the opportunity to do whatever she wants in the future.”

Figure skating is an athletic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other complicated and challenging moves on ice. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level, and at local, national, and international competitions

Fiancee’s pledge to murdered student

Independent

03/07/08

The fiancee of one of the two murdered French research students wrote a poignant tribute to her beloved partner today.

Mary Bertez said she would never stop thinking about Laurent Bonomo “for a second” and promised to tell detectives everything she knew that could help find his killer.

Only a week earlier she had told her fiance she was missing him and could not wait to see him on his return to France.

Ms Bertez poured her heart out on Mr Bonomo’s page on social networking website Facebook this afternoon.

She wrote: “My love, we were always together but unfortunately I wasn’t there that evening.

“I will never stop thinking about you for a second. I had 10 months of a happiness I had never experienced until then.

“Today you are gone. I will try to be as good as you always wanted.

“I will give all the required information to the investigation, my dear, so you can be avenged.”

Ms Bertez used Facebook to express her feelings after Mr Bonomo, 23, arrived in Britain to start his research placement at Imperial College.

She wrote on 8 May: “Come back to me soon, my dear!!! London is too far – sniff! Love you to death. Your princess!!!”

Then last Thursday she wrote: “Miss you. See you very soon. Love you.”

Mr Bonomo should have been back in France with his family and friends within weeks – but less than four days after Ms Bertez left this message he was dead.