Cape Town’s Gian-Quen Isaacs makes history with international figure skating gold

Twenty-one-year-old figure skater Gian-Quen Isaacs, from Kensington in Cape Town, became the first South African senior skater to win gold at an international competition. She won the Diamond Spin 2026 in Katowice, Poland, with 152.73 points after rising from sixth place following the short programme; Switzerland’s Sayra Bessire placed second and Poland’s Karolina Bialas third. An eight-time national champion, Isaacs also qualified for the Four Continents Championships and is still aiming to qualify for the Senior World Championships.