The Loena Hendrickx appreciation thread

[Karen-W]

LOL - well, Galliamov has to do something with his time this week since he's not in Montreal and she is. Too bad, so sad. That interview makes me even more of a fan of her than before and while I like Kaori just fine, I'd be thrilled if Loena won Worlds.

 

[Icetalavista]

Re Leona’s choreography: now that Beyoncé’s next release is a country album, Solya will need to expand his dance vocabulary or find another musician lol

 

[Sylvia]

Loena just mentioned in her Instagram Live with Chiquesport's Jenna McCorkell that she plans to reveal her 2024-25 program music at the end of June (will edit in link if the video is archived).

ETA - from the 2024 Canadian Stars on Ice thread in GSD re. the opening show in Halifax:

Loena skated very well! Her first number was very poppy - "One Kiss" by Amber Leigh Irish & Calvin Harris/Dua Lipa and her second number was a slower piece a version of Remo Forrer's song "Heaven or Hell". The lyrics to her second program ("like fire and ice") seemed to go over well with the crowd.

 

[Sylvia]

Loena Hendrickx postpones comeback for a while: "But there is progress" (Nov. 4) - following her withdrawal from the Grand Prix series (thanks to SkatingScores for posting the link on X):

Loena Hendrickx stelt comeback nog even uit: "Maar er zit vooruitgang in" | sporza

Loena Hendrickx zal over 2 weken niet meedoen aan de Finlandia Cup, een Grand Prix in Helsinki. De Europese kampioene kunstschaatsen heeft wel al een ander event aangeduid waar ze haar comeback zal maken: de Golden Spin in Zagreb van 4 tot en met 7 december.

sporza.be

Google translation:

Loena Hendrickx will stay off the ice for a while during competitions.

She previously withdrew from the Grand Prix in France, which was held last weekend, because she needed extra time to prepare for the upcoming events. Now she has also announced that she will not participate in the Finlandia Cup, a Grand Prix in Helsinki in 2 weeks.

The European figure skating champion will participate in the Golden Spin in Zagreb from 4 to 7 December. For the first time in weeks, she is training well again, says Hendrickx. She wants to be able to defend her European title in Tallinn at the end of January.

According to Hendrickx, she had a difficult start to the season. "I had a good summer and the training went well. But despite that, I had the feeling that there was no progress. As the season approached, the pressure increased. And that worked against me."

After the first competition of the season, in Shanghai at the beginning of October - she came third there - she decided to take a step back. "Back to basics and building up step by step. We've been doing that for a while now and I can see that there's progress."

But Hendrickx has decided that the competition in Helsinki is too early. It's the fifth of six Grand Prix competitions, in which only invited skaters can participate.

 

[withwings]

Oh, so sad...Why, why Loena you do not have a courage go to other choreographer?? or for some three weeks to train with someone else? You need to change of environment for a while, to get fresh look and you will be fine.
Wish and hope for Loena to be ready for the Olympics?

Maybe youtube comments influenced her? these comments are absolutely terrible, there is more than negativity in these comments, they are full of hate, full of destructive force and, of course, all of them come from Russians ( written in Russian). it would be better never allow comments for any figure skating even on YouTube.

Loena, wake up! you are beautiful and unique skater!

 

[Sylvia]

Loena has withdrawn from this week's Golden Spin of Zagreb: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/2024-25-challenger-series.111881/page-8#post-6696473

She has competed just one time this season - bronze at the Shanghai Trophy Invitational in early October. Here's hoping she will be at Euros in Tallinn.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Very sad … I wonder if she will be at the Belgian nationals or European’s? I hope she comes back with a new choreographer and just a bit of change, and also if she’s injured, I hope she heals.

 

[Sylvia]

Very sad … I wonder if she will be at the Belgian nationals

Loena WD from last month's Nationals (ETA - sorry, this link leads to LAST SEASON's results): https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/2024-25-oes-news.111837/page-2#post-6696528
I've since been corrected in the OES News thread:

Those results are from last year’s Belgian Nationals. This year, the nationals will take place on 17-18 January (indeed much later than usually) in Hasselt.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Loena WD from last month's Nationals: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/2024-25-oes-news.111837/page-2#post-6696528

Good lord Belgium had their nationals in November? What’s the point? I don’t understand these countries having their 2025 nationals in the year 2024. Especially when worlds are half of a year away lol.

And on top of that especially when November and December are full of tons and tons of other competitions

 

[Sylvia]

Weer een nieuw richtpunt: Loena Hendrickx trekt niet naar Zagreb voor comeback op het ijs | sporza

Loena Hendrickx is dan toch nog niet helemaal klaar om opnieuw op het ijs te stappen. De Belgische kunstschaatster zou normaal gezien vanaf 4 december in Zagreb actief zijn, maar stelt haar comeback nog even uit. "Haar seizoen zal in het teken staan van het EK", klinkt het in haar kamp.

sporza.be

Google translated excerpt:

Despite the progress the Belgian made, she has now decided not to resume the competition this weekend [in Zagreb].
The postponement does not mean that Hendrickx's big goals for this season are out of the question. "She is fully preparing for her winter season, which will mainly focus on the European Championships," Golazo [her talent agency] shares an update on Hendrickx.
The European Figure Skating Championships will take place from January 27 to February 2, 2025 in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia.

 

[karmena]

Hmm...it seems that Loena has burned out last season (?). TO skate being injured or sick is beyond one's physical strength, and, eventually, it burns out psychologically and one needs time to recover. Just my interpretation, nothing else. I have no any knowledge what is happening with her.
I wish Loena to get a choreography which she really loves and to skate lights out next season...or this season?

 

[Sylvia]

This Dec. 4th article says "Loena Hendrickx twisted her ankle during training on Tuesday [Dec. 3]. It remains to be seen what the consequences will be for the figure skater, who will defend her European title in two months."

Loena Hendrickx slaat enkel om tijdens training: "Maar wellicht niet meer dan kleine tegenslag" | sporza

Het is vooralsnog niet het seizoen van Loena Hendrickx. De Belgische kunstschaatsster kwam ten val op training en verzwikte haar enkel. Met het EK op komst, komt de blessure erg ongelegen. "Al is het wellicht niet meer dan een kleine tegenslag", stelde haar management Golazo alvast gerust.

sporza.be

 

[Debbie S]

Loena posted on IG earlier today that she was going for a bike ride, so her ankle may be feeling better.

 

[Sylvia]

Road to Milano Cortina (interview in French & Dutch)
Writer // Boris Rodesch - Photography // Michel Verpoorten

Road to Milano Cortina — POLLEN

Loena Hendrickx écrit les plus belles pages de l’histoire du patinage artistique belge. Vice-championne du monde en 2022 et championne d’Europe en titre, l’Anversoise de 24 ans vise une 3e participation consécutive aux Jeux olympiques d’hiver.

www.pollenmag.com

Loena is listed for Euros (as of Jan. 2) so fingers crossed!

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Loena is listed for Euros (as of Jan. 2) so fingers crossed!

I saw you posted something, so I got that pre-diarrhea feeling, just like when someone had the audacity to post in the Isabeau thread earlier today lol

 

[SkateFanBerlin]

I saw you posted something, so I got that pre-diarrhea feeling, just like when someone had the audacity to post in the Isabeau thread earlier today lol

thank you for sharing.....

 

[farahfan]

Road to Milano Cortina (interview in French & Dutch)
Writer // Boris Rodesch - Photography // Michel Verpoorten

Road to Milano Cortina — POLLEN

Loena Hendrickx écrit les plus belles pages de l’histoire du patinage artistique belge. Vice-championne du monde en 2022 et championne d’Europe en titre, l’Anversoise de 24 ans vise une 3e participation consécutive aux Jeux olympiques d’hiver.

www.pollenmag.com

Loena is listed for Euros (as of Jan. 2) so fingers crossed!

I sure hope she makes it. I'm missing her energy this season.

 

[Sylvia]

Last February, Loena Hendrickx of Belgium underwent surgery on her ankle and did not know if she ever will compete again. Then she qualified an Olympic quota place at the ISU Skate to Milano Qualifier in Beijing in September by taking bronze there and continued her comeback with another bronze at the ISU Grand Prix NHK Trophy. Now she is set to go to her third Olympic Winter Games.

Link to read ISU's feature article (19 Nov 2025): https://isu-skating.com/figure-skating/news/belgiums-loena-hendrickx-is-back-in-business/

Loena's post today (Dec. 24, 2025):

ℓσεηα нεη∂яιcкx 🇧🇪 on Instagram: "Happy training moments during the holidays 🎄🎅🏼☀️ • #MerryChristmas #TrainingHard #EnjoyingTheSun #DoWhatYouLove #FigureSkating"

2,255 likes, 24 comments - loenahendrickx on December 24, 2025: "Happy training moments during the holidays 🎄🎅🏼☀️ • #MerryChristmas #TrainingHard #EnjoyingTheSun #DoWhatYouLove #FigureSkating".

www.instagram.com

(CC: @karmena who recently asked about Loena in the OES News thread)

 

[karmena]

Link to read ISU's feature article (19 Nov 2025): https://isu-skating.com/figure-skating/news/belgiums-loena-hendrickx-is-back-in-business/

Loena's post today (Dec. 24, 2025):

ℓσεηα нεη∂яιcкx 🇧🇪 on Instagram: "Happy training moments during the holidays 🎄🎅🏼☀️ • #MerryChristmas #TrainingHard #EnjoyingTheSun #DoWhatYouLove #FigureSkating"

2,255 likes, 24 comments - loenahendrickx on December 24, 2025: "Happy training moments during the holidays 🎄🎅🏼☀️ • #MerryChristmas #TrainingHard #EnjoyingTheSun #DoWhatYouLove #FigureSkating".

www.instagram.com

(CC: @karmena who recently asked about Loena in the OES News thread)

Thank you, Sylvia!
There could not be better news than to read Loena IS back to training!
I admire her perseverance, her pure love of skating despite all the misfortunes and difficulties.

 

[Icetalavista]

Lovely smooth power skating. Please skate the way you can, uninjured, at Milan!

 

[Sylvia]

Rarely has surgery been so life-saving. Loena Hendrickx's (26) Olympic participation was hanging by a thread due to a lingering ankle injury, but after surgery, Hendrickx is back on the ice with a smile. And with a ticket to the Games. "Last year, it was all about thinking and failing. The latter is much less of an issue now."

Interview (videos are embedded) article (Dec. 31, 2025):

"Ik dacht dat het voorbij was": Loena Hendrickx wisselde na operatie de tranen in voor vrijheid op het ijs | sporza

Zelden werkte een operatie zo verlossend. De olympische deelname van Loena Hendrickx (26) hing aan een zijden draadje door een aanslepende enkelblessure, maar na een ingreep staat Hendrickx weer met een glimlach op het ijs. En mét een ticket voor de Spelen. "Vorig jaar was het nadenken en falen...

sporza.be

Auto-translated excerpts:

Hendrickx's ankle has recovered, but figure skating remains a physically demanding sport. Doubts about some of his jumps haven't entirely disappeared.
"As you get older, you get scared more easily," Hendrickx explains. She compares it to an amusement park.
"A child goes on all the rides without thinking. When you're older, you think more about the risks."
"That's my feeling in this sport too, and it's scary. Wiser with age? Sometimes a little too wise."
"They always say that in this sport, it's better to be a little less intelligent so you don't think too much, because then everything just happens automatically. You have to be able to turn that switch off, switch off your mind."

Hendrickx is pleased with how she can train now and how she feels. "It's important to talk about it. Life isn't all perfection. These kinds of times are part of it."
"My mental coach, Eline Berings, helped me a lot. My brother knows me inside and out, as does my mother. But my love for the sport pulled me through."
"I normally never stand on the ice with tears, but during that period with my ankle it was constant."
"I definitely wondered if I was too old, if I could still do it. It's over, I thought. It's over."
That's not the case, because in China, Hendrickx secured a ticket for the Winter Games. "What a relief. It was make or break. I've never been so focused on a competition."
"There were so many doubts. Everything had to be just right and there couldn't be any major setbacks. My rehabilitation had to go perfectly and we listened very carefully to my body."

"My goal is the Games, and now I have to listen to my body. I have to keep going until February."
In Italy, Hendrickx wants to enjoy herself at her third Olympic Games. "I want to grab these Games with both hands. I don't want to feel ill from the stress. I want to savor everything I've achieved after all these years."
Hendrickx hasn't yet made any decisions about what happens after the Games. "I've reached an age where my body can no longer handle it so easily," says the 26-year-old Olympian.
"It's more likely to be a choice of 'I can't do it anymore' than 'I don't want to do it anymore.' That's quite difficult."
"It will be scary when my career is over, because then one world will be closed off. Because I don't have another world yet and that's quite scary. I still have to figure out how skating can remain in my life."