Dunedin figure skater Sarah Macgibbon needs good balance on the ice.
But she has thrown textbooks into the balancing act this year as she prepares for life after figure skating, while still trying to reach the peak in her chosen sport.
Macgibbon (20) began a bachelor of neuroscience degree at the University of Otago this year.
Her ultimate goal is to get into pathology, and the neuroscience degree is the first step.
''I'm glad I went back into schooling. I took two break years after school and I'm just glad I have something else to focus on as well, so it's more of a whole picture rather than just the ice-skating,'' Macgibbon said.
That balancing act will continue later this month, when Macgibbon heads to Auckland for the New Zealand ice figure skating championship at Botany.
She will enter the national championship in solid form, having won her senior women's grade in the Dunedin club championships, the Otago-Southland championships and the South Island competition.
Macgibbon finished second at the North Island championships last weekend, although that was a highlight in itself, as she took on Allie Rout, a skater she has admired for more than a decade.
''She's really, really good and I was so happy to come second against her. I've been looking at her since I was 8 at how amazing she is.
''It's awesome, to be honest, but it's like when you go to the international competitions. You can't get too star-struck.''
She will meet Rout again at the nationals, but Macgibbon will focus largely on her own performance.
''The aim is to get definitely as close as I can. I'm not really expecting for a win.
''My main goal is to qualify for international. I've got to get a certain amount of points to do that.''
If she qualifies to compete in international events, Macgibbon will look for an event near Finland, where she will head in November for further training.
Macgibbon's training has largely been ice-based with some general exercises this season after a compression injury in her back laid her low for half of last season.
''It's been really good getting back into it, but I train keeping that in mind, because I don't want to do it again,'' she said.
The muscular injury frustrated the energetic Macgibbon as she worked her way back to full fitness.
''I've fractured plenty of things and they were a lot better to deal with, because they were bone and just got better. This one took so long with lots of rehab exercises that are really boring.''
Macgibbon has kept busy in recent months, taking part in an ice show fundraiser for the ice stadium, picking up coaching qualifications and will perform in Wellington next month in a promotion for figure skating.
