Skater delivers medal haul after sport helps her overcome depression

An ice skater who gave up the sport when she was 13 before rediscovering it 13 years later following bouts of depression and anxiety during the pandemic, is to represent Great Britain in a major European competition.

Jess Constable from Coventry will take part in the 2026 Swan Challenger at Lake Bled in Slovenia in October.

"During the pandemic I suffered greatly as like a lot of people did, with my mental health, it had quite a big effect on me personally. I lost my job twice during the pandemic. I became really depressed, anxious" she said.

However, since returning to the sport, Constable has won 11 medals in 14 competitions across the UK.

Constable said she had been surprised how quickly her return to the sport had helped her mental health.

"I think it's just due to having that goal of getting on the ice and because I know how much it helps my mental health, it's really like a driving force and I surprise myself every time I get on the ice, mainly when I fall over."

Constable originally stopped skating when she was 13, however during the Covid-19 pandemic, she was made redundant twice, and developed depression and anxiety.

Her therapist suggested she might look to get into a hobby to rebuild her confidence and boost her morale.

"I saw an advert, I think it was on Instagram, for the Coventry Adult Synchronised Figure Skating Team.

"I saw it and I thought, 'oh my gosh, I've been away for so long, I don't know how this is, I'm gonna fit back into this'.

"But then I thought, why not?"

She said having been out of the sport for 13 years, there was a lot to relearn, especially as she was returning to the sport as a mature woman.

"It is a little bit like riding a bike," she said.

"But obviously the time gap between me being age 12 and a tiny little preteen and me coming back as like a mature adult, the difference in my height and weight, that was definitely something to get used to."

After picking up the sport again, Constable went on to compete for Coventry-based Team Majestikal in competitions across the country.

"It boosted my confidence so much [and] I met so many amazing people, including my best friend Laura," she said.

Since her return to the sport, Constable has won seven gold medals, a silver and three bronze medals, including one at the British Adult National Championships.

She says the Swan Challenger is part of her road map to higher glory.

"My main goal is to aim for the Winter World Masters Games in January 2028 in Finland.

"It happens every four years. It's basically like an Olympics for over thirties."

Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.