From humble beginnings come great things, they say, and the story of Karen Barber’s dedication for greatness may just prove this to be true.

Born to a working-class family in the borough of Tameside, Karen was raised at her home in Droylsden, a foundation which instilled appreciation within her.

She began skating when she was a young child, seeing it as nothing more than a hobby at the time. With a distinct lack of ice rinks in the Tameside area, Karen was forced to get various buses to either Cheetham Hill or Altrincham.

Affording just one lesson a week for 20 minutes, the skater would have to recall her routines for a prolonged period of time, a skill that would benefit her in years to come.

A small and feeble child, Karen’s parents never pressurised her to score highly on the ice. In fact, she tells a story of entering her first competition and realising her level.

“My first competition was without jumps or spins because I was very artistic, I was one away from being in last place at that event.

“I was confused at the time because all the other parents were looking at the scoreboard, whereas my family just left. My mother just kept telling me how pretty I looked out on the ice.

“My parents only ever wanted me to be happy, they loved seeing me having fun,” Karen explains.

During this time, she was being taught just one dance a week. Internationally, there are 30 dances to master. A small character in the rink, Karen would often dance to other people’s music, unable to provide her own but erupting into a performance, nevertheless.

A momentous surprise, Karen entered the Primary National Championships and won. 6 months later, she was crowned junior champion. From here on out, everything changed.

People started to realise her potential for success, and so Karen was invited to compete at the Junior Worlds. Here, she placed second under her coach Joan Slater. Before she knew it, she was being partnered with Nicky Slater, an unstoppable duo who went on to achieve great success.

Karen competed at two Olympic Games, an event that she recalls as being incredibly fun.

“An Olympic experience is not just about you, it’s about the Team, and what an amazing team we had.

“Christopher Dean and Jayne Torvill were also competing at the Games, and of course they were always going to be champions, but we were all so supportive of each other, and it was a beautiful experience.

“Any athlete will agree that it is the ultimate dream to make it to an Olympics, I’m so glad we all got to share that dream together,” she said.

In 2006, an iconic British television show made its way to our screens. Its name was Dancing on Ice, featuring a selection of incredible skaters, one being Karen Barber.

As a head coach, Karen takes the contestants through every stage of their training, sculpting them into elegant dancers and forming emotional bonds along the way.

It takes incredible commitment, drive, and ethic to perform well on the rink, something which Karen knows well.

“There’s so much hard work that people don’t get to see, there’s blood, sweat and tears that go into every single show.

“I train people for over a four-month period, so I do get very close to them and it’s heart-breaking to watch when they leave the show.

“99% of people arrive as a blank canvas, some are very open to learning but every person is different. I don’t just teach them how to skate, I learn a lot about their needs. It can be mentally taxing, and some people need some extra support.

“I see the contestants from day one, I even fasten some of their skates up. I love the satisfaction that coaching brings.”

Working with a whole host of celebrities, Karen has coached some outstanding talent, and some that gave her endless chuckles.

Someone that stands out for her is Kimberly Wyatt, best known as a member of the Pussycat Dolls. Karen says she was a ‘delight to coach’, ending every session with a curtsy.

She highlights former participants Joe Pasquale and Joe Swash for always bringing a smile to her face. It’s not just the champions that stay in Karen’s mind, but instead the kind-hearted skaters who arrive to every session ready to have fun.

Coaching radio presenter Sonny Jay, Karen says they would be endlessly laughing throughout training.

Aside from the glitz and the glam, Barber’s ultimate goal was to start a family and become a mother. She accomplished this dream after the birth of her two beautiful daughters, now aged 30 and 31.

“I always tell my girls to focus on their goals, advice that I would offer any young person, and to never stop aiming for better.

“My daughters are very similar to me, I’m so proud of how talented and determined they are.”

Enforcing the fact that life is an individual journey, Karen says it is best not to rush and instead find out who you are first. Working hard and staying on track to achieve her success, the 61-year-old encourages anyone to grab opportunities as they come.

Known for her fairy-tale romance with national treasure Christopher Dean, Karen says she is beyond happy with the life they have built.

“I’m so proud of him for so many reasons. He’s not only an amazing skater and one of the world’s best choreographers, he’s also a really lovely person. He’d win a gold medal in being a nice person.

“We’ve never searched for the limelight and we’re happy with the simpler things in life, family and home is so important to us,” she said.

Karen’s story is of an ultimately inspiring nature, rising from simple upbringings to become one of the most successful athletes in Britain.

She is the embodiment of virtuous talent, proving that with hard work, you can achieve anything.

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