Houston – They make it look effortless on the ice, but their rise has been anything but slow.
Houston-based figure skaters Ian Spencer and Tiffany Kim, skaters for The Skating Club of Houston, have been skating together for just 10 months. In that short time, the pair not only qualified for the U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the novice level, they stepped onto the national podium, earning a bronze medal.
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“I didn’t think we’d be able to go that far,” Spencer said. “So it’s really exciting.”
Their rapid progress has been guided by their coaches, Mark Janoschak and Tammy Janoschak, who are also a husband-and-wife team.
Tammy Janoschak brings a background in pairs skating, while her husband comes from ice dance — a combination they say has helped shape Spencer and Kim into a balanced, disciplined team.
Mark Janoschak knows the Olympic stage well. He is a Canadian ice dance champion and competed at the 1992 Winter Olympics.
“What I appreciated most was seeing athletes from all over the world in so many different sports,” he said.
This season carried extra meaning for his students, who competed at nationals during an Olympic year — an experience that sparked something new.
“Before, I thought the Olympics would just be cool,” Spencer said. “But after going to U.S. Championships during an Olympic year, it’s definitely something I’d like to work toward.”
Kim echoed that sentiment.
“Going to the Olympics was always this ‘wow’ idea,” she said. “But once we were there, it hit me — we’re almost there.”
Coming off their bronze medal finish, the pair says they’re focused on what’s next, continuing to build on their momentum.
Their coaches say the success is no coincidence.
“It’s their discipline — in the sport and at school,” Tammy Janoschak said.
As for whether the Olympics could be in their future?
“You’ve got to start with the dream,” Mark Janoschak said.
And for Spencer, sharing that journey together would mean everything.
“I think it would be awesome,” he said. “To have all that hard work pay off together.”
Ian Spencer and Tiffany Kim may still be finding their edges, but this Houston pair is already skating toward what comes next.