Christina Carreira is a Canadian-born ice dancer who competes for the United States. With her skating partner, Anthony Ponomarenko, she is a two-time Four Continents bronze medalist, the 2018 Rostelecom Cup bronze medalist, an eight-time medalist on the ISU Challenger Series, and a three-time U.S. national medalist.
We CANNOT SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT THE INCREDIBLE SKATER AND PERSON THAT IS CHRISTINA CARREIRA. In an environment where competition can bring out the worst in people, she has remained true to herself and led with kindness and positivity.
Even more than being a technically and artistically gifted skater, Christina is a good person who cares for those around her – and that’s really what matters, right?
This month on Women Fitness Europe we have Christina talking about her journey , favourite food and travel!
Namita Nayyar:
You were born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and in 2013, moved to Novi, Michigan, United States. You started skating at the age of three years and competing by the age of six years. With Simon-Pierre Malette-Paquette, you won sectional titles from the juvenile level. Representing Quebec, you both became the 2012 national champion at the pre-novice level. This later propelled your career to the height where you have been at the top of the world of ice dancing. Tell us more about your professional journey of exceptional hard work, tenacity, and endurance?
Christina Carreira:
I started skating at the age of three, and I started ice dance when I was 6 with my previous partner, we skated together for 7 years. When I was 13 I moved to Michigan by myself, when training got more serious. I teamed up with Anthony the following year and we started competing internationally on the Junior Grand Prix circuit. We did well in junior, and after 4 years together we had two junior world medals, the following season, we moved up to senior, and the competition was a lot tougher, we had a great first year at the senior level but then it was hard to keep the momentum going. Over the last two years, we have been able to establish ourselves on the national and international level. I think what helped us was trusting the team around us and the plan they made for us. In ice dance, it can take a long time to achieve success, we’re both very determined and motivated to achieve our goals so we work hard every day and it’s been paying off.
Namita Nayyar:
You won the Silver Medal at the 2024 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, in Columbus, Ohio. Tell us more about this spectacular achievement of yours.
Christina Carreira:
Winning the silver medal at our national championship was special for us, the US is one of the strongest countries in the world in ice dance so it’s a really big honor to be recognized as one of their top teams. We had been working very hard all year to achieve our goal of being in the top two at nationals. It felt like our hard work had paid off and it was a great week overall, the crowd was also incredible.
Namita Nayyar:
In April 2014, you teamed up with American ice dancer Anthony Ponomarenko and since then it has been no holding back. You both have won numerous ice dancing competitions. Tell us more about your Ice dance arenas, the perfect chemistry between the two, and synchronizing in perfect harmony when performing in a competition.
Christina Carreira:
I’m so grateful for my partnership with Anthony, this year was our tenth season skating together and it was our best one yet. He is one of my best friends which makes working together every day and traveling the world together even more special. In the last few seasons, we focused on connecting before competing, we have a little ritual that we do before taking the ice at a competition; we talk through our cues for our program and we hug and sync our breath so that we feel more connected.
Full Interview is Continued on Next Page
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President of womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied, or hosted in part or full anywhere without express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2024 Women Fitness
Namita Nayyar:
Immense contribution of your choreographers Marie-France Dubreuil and Romain Haguenauer from behind the scenes of your many successes on the ice dance competitions. Tell us more about their extraordinary role in the pinnacle of success you have achieved.
Christina Carreira:
I’m so grateful for the team of coaches at the ice academy of Montreal, they’ve all helped us find ourselves as skaters and performers. This past season we mostly did our choreography with Madison Hubbel, Adrian Diaz, and Scott Moir, it was really fun exploring new styles and a different kind of movements. They’re all so creative and easy to work with.
Namita Nayyar:
How your first coach Yvan Desjardins in your formative years and now Scott Moir, Patrica Lauzon, Madison Hubbell, and Adrian Diaz have played as a catalyst to your meteoric rise as an ice dancer in the world arena
Christina Carreira:
I’m grateful for all the coaches that I’ve worked with over the years, I learned something different from everyone. The coaches I had when I was starting taught me how to have a good work ethic and made me fall in love with the sport. My current coaches are incredible and have taught me so much. I wouldn’t be the skater or the person I am today if it wasn’t for them, they’ve created a healthy training environment that brings out the best in their athletes.
Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you may wish to share?
Christina Carreira:
I do a few different workouts throughout the week, I usually skate five days a week for 3-4 hours and the intensity of that training depends on the time of the year, sometimes it’s more detail-oriented, and other times it’s cardio work. I do ballet twice a week for 1h30 each session, pilates once a week (usually reformer), three workouts a week, one cardio over the weekend, and two strength training during the week.
Namita Nayyar:
How do you train your abs? One secret to your toned body.
Christina Carreira:
I try to engage my abs in every exercise I do, so I’m constantly working on it. I do a lot of different core exercises in the gym that help, and I find that Pilates has really helped tone my abs.
Namita Nayyar:
Do you take a special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Christina Carreira:
I don’t have a very strict diet, but I’d say my diet is pretty flexible, I like eating healthy and that’s my first choice most of the time but sometimes I like to treat myself. I need to be fueled properly for training so my diet will also depend on the intensity of my training.
Namita Nayyar:
Five foods you love and five you keep to a minimum.
Christina Carreira:
My top 5 favorite foods would be; avocado, strawberries, eggs, cauliflower, and chocolate. Foods I try to stay away from, I think everything in moderation is okay but I try to stay away from processed foods, and dairy just because I usually feel better when I don’t have it.
Namita Nayyar:
You have glowing skin and gorgeous hair. Share with us your hair care and skincare routine.
Christina Carreira:
When it comes to my hair and skin, I’ve learned that my diet impacts my hair and skin. I try to eat whole foods to make sure my body is absorbing as much nutrients as possible, and I drink a lot of water. For my hair care routine, I try to keep it as simple as possible, I use Kerastase shampoo, conditioner, and hair oil. I try to use heat on my hair as little as possible but when I do, I use a heat protectant. When it comes to my skin, at night, I remove my makeup with micellar water I wash my face with a gentle face wash and I put on the la Roche Posay Cicaplast, I have very dry skin so this hydrates my skin. In the morning, I only wash my face and put on moisturizer. I try to stay out of the sun for the most part but if I’m not training indoors all day I’ll wear sunscreen.
Namita Nayyar:
Five athletic leisure brands you love to wear.
Christina Carreira:
Lululemon, Adidas, Alo, Nike, Aritzia
Namita Nayyar:
Five travel destinations on your wish list.
Christina Carreira:
Greece, Australia, Thailand, Portugal, Spain
Namita Nayyar:
What do you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and the message for its visitors?
Christina Carreira:
The website provides great information for women wanting to get into fitness and health concerns.
Namita Nayyar:
In sports like Ice dancing how you were able to overcome any physical or sports injury setbacks and what advice you can give to those in a similar situation?
Christina Carreira:
I’ve been pretty lucky when it comes to injuries, but I’d say to have patience and listen to what the doctors tell you. I find that doing preventative work like Osteo and Physio helps me stay healthy, my recovery is also very important; I try to get as much sleep as possible, I warm up before I skate and I stretch at the end of the day.
Namita Nayyar:
Advice and motivational words to the inspiring and budding Ice dancer girls, who all are your fans and would like to know from you about their climb to the ladder of success in the field of ice dancing.
Christina Carreira:
My advice to young girls would be to dream big and to believe in yourself, it takes a lot of hard work and determination but you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it. It’s important to surround yourself with a team that you trust and that believes in you. I would also say that it’s important to have patience and to set small achievable goals, not just focus on the results.
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President of womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied, or hosted in part or full anywhere without express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2024 Women Fitness