GUADALAJARA, Mexico — It can be tricky at the airport when they are flying to competitions around the world. Eduardo Gravina is used to explaining what it is they do, but that does not always make it easy when they stop at customs and immigration.

“What are you doing?” the officer will ask.

“Oh, we’re competing,” Gravina, the coach, and Kailah Macri, his athlete, will say.

“What sport?” the officer will prod.

“Skating,” they say.

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‘Macri, 20, is from Whitby, Ont., but has logged thousands of kilometres in travel just for a place to practise‘- photo and caption from here