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Stamford Ice Dancer Represents Ukraine At Sochi Olympics

STAMFORD, Conn. – Stamford skater Siobhan Heekin-Canedy is a three-time Ukrainian national champion in ice dancing with her partner, Dmitri Dun. Beginning Thursday, Heekin-Canedy and Dun will try to add an Olympic medal to their collection.

Stamford skater Siobhan Heekin-Canedy, right, with partner Dmitri Dun, will represent Ukraine in the Winter Olympics.

Stamford skater Siobhan Heekin-Canedy, right, with partner Dmitri Dun, will represent Ukraine in the Winter Olympics.

Photo Credit: Flickr user Luu

Heekin-Canedy, 22, and Dun, 24, are representing Ukraine in the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The opening ceremonies are Thursday, Feb. 6.

They are due to skate first in the new Team Event on Sunday, Feb. 8. Ukraine is one of the 10 nations taking part in the new Olympic event.

The ice dance competition begins with the Short Dance on Sunday, Feb. 16, and the Free Dance on Monday, Feb. 17.

She was born in Beverly Hills, Calif., and grew up in Stamford but represents Ukraine because that is the nationality of her partner. Heekin-Canedy has competed with partners from Ukraine since 2007. She and Dun have been a team since 2011.

“I like the Ukrainian people, their openness and sincerity,’’ Heekin-Canedy said in an interview on the www.sochi2014.com website. “Its culture goes back many centuries. I am sometimes amazed to contrast America, with only 200 or so years [of history]."

Although she competes for Ukraine, all of Heekin-Canedy’s training is done in the United States. She has skated at Terry Conners and Twin Rinks in Stamford and Dorothy Hamill Rink in Greenwich. She and Dun train primarily in Hackensack, N.J.

She started out as single skater, but a knee injury limited her ability to jump. She has been skating with a partner since she was 14.

Ice dancing draws from the world of ballroom dancing and became an Olympic sport in 1976. Ice dancing differs from pairs skating in that jumps and throws are not permitted and instead relies on intricate footwork and dance moves.

Heekin-Canedy was raised in Stamford and attended Greenwich Catholic School through the eighth grade. She was home-schooled in high school. Her father is Scott Heekin-Canedy, a former executive at The New York Times.

Heekin-Canedy has competed in a host of international competitions. Last year, the duo finished 14th at the World Championships and 12th at the European Championships. They also won the gold medal at the Nestle Cup. 

Another figure skater from Fairfield County, Brooklee Han of Redding, will also be competing in the Olympics. Han will skate in the ladies event for Australia.

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