Breanna Williams Masters the Mental Game as She Takes on the World in Turin

For as long as she can remember, Breanna Williams has wanted to be a figure skater. Growing up in Windsor, Ontario, she looked up to her mom, a former skater herself, and followed in her footsteps onto the ice. What started as a childhood dream has now become a reality on the world stage, as Breanna competes at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 as a proud member of Special Olympics Team Canada.

Breanna’s involvement with Special Olympics began in 2017 when she started working with a figure skating coach—who, coincidentally, was also involved in Special Olympics. It was through this connection that she discovered a community that matched her passion and energy for the sport. “The best thing about Special Olympics is that it’s always exciting, and people are so passionate,” she shares. “Sometimes, at my local rink, I feel like I’m the only one smiling, but that’s never the case at Special Olympics—everyone else is smiling too.”

Her love for the sport extends beyond just competing. As a role model both on and off the ice, she has been instrumental in inspiring her six-year-old brother, who is also a Special Olympics athlete. Breanna and her mom laced up his skates when he was just two and a half, guiding him through his first steps on the ice. Now, he has his own aspirations of competing at the world level—just like his big sister.

Since arriving in Turin, Breanna has been soaking in the experience of a lifetime. The competition is intense, but she has found strength in the support of her teammates, coaches, and mission staff. “All the people around me are always telling me, ‘You can do it.’ Sometimes I get stressed before a competition, and it’s hard to deal with that pressure alone—so it’s been really nice to always have a team behind me,” she says.

To help manage the mental side of competition, she has been working with mental performance lead Frank Van Den Berg, marking the first time she has had access to this level of coaching. “It’s been very helpful,” she says. “He helps me focus—not on the stress, but on what I’m here to do.”

Van Den Berg has worked with many athletes on Special Olympics Team Canada, helping them develop mental strategies to perform at their best under pressure. “It’s great to work with Special Olympics Team Canada athletes, as they experience very similar challenges in their sport performance pursuits as any other high performance athletes,” he explains. “Some already have good routines and ways to get ready for competition. Many benefit from different mental skills and strategies, like setting goals for practice, focusing on performance—execution—and managing distractions, using affirmative statements and self-talk, or relaxing when too many nerves show up. Breanna is learning how to stay positive, release tension, and calm down when her competition gets closer.”

Today, Breanna and her teammates will take to the ice for a final practice session before competing in their short program tomorrow. Her favourite elements of her routine? Spins and the moonwalk. But above all, her main focus is staying in the moment and competing with confidence. “My goal is to block out everything—the competition, the other skaters—and just focus on myself. Be present and ready.”

Her journey to Turin was paved with dedication and success. At the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Calgary 2024, she earned two medals—a bronze in dance and a gold in Level 5 Free Skate Solo, securing her place on Special Olympics Team Canada 2025. Before leaving for the World Games, she competed in one last event, where she claimed first place—a strong send-off that boosted her confidence heading into the biggest competition of her life.

One moment that made a real difference in her preparation was having her travel coach, Tracey Zwier, at that final competition. Though Tracey will only be her coach for the Games, she made a point to come watch Breanna compete, offering her encouragement from the stands. Knowing that Tracey had seen her skate in competition before heading to Turin gave Breanna an extra boost of confidence—she no longer felt like she had to prove herself from scratch at the Games. Instead, she could step onto the ice knowing her coach had already witnessed her strengths firsthand and was ready to support her every step of the way.

While her mom and little brother are cheering her on from home, Breanna has a strong fan club in Turin, with her grandfather, grandmother, aunt, uncle, and local training coach making the trip to watch her compete.

She hopes her journey can inspire others—including her little brother—to chase their own dreams. “I want people to see the skill of me and my fellow athletes and know that people of all abilities can be a world champion,” she says. “And I want to inspire others—like my little brother—to follow in my footsteps.”

No matter the results in Turin, Breanna Williams has already proven herself to be a champion—not just on the ice, but in the way she lifts up those around her and paves the way for future generations of skaters.