Fabian (Black), Eva

BORN ABOUT 1965 Eva Fabian grew up at Burwood in Melbourne's east and began figure skating with her brother George. They won the Australian and Victorian pair skating championship in the novice, junior and senior divisions in 1978. [4] The pair skated in the World Junior championship in France that year, but within twelve months Fabian had decided to quit figure skating. "I got sick of it so I thought I'd try speed skating", she told The Sun newspaper during practice at the Olympic Ice Skating Rink in Melbourne in 1983. [1]

Fabian was soon racing over 500, 1000, 1500 and 3000 metres and reaching speeds of 33km per hour. National champion in the early Eighties, her best time of 52.3 sec over 500m placed her in world class. She skated in the 1982 World Championships in Canada, finishing 13th in a field of 32, and a remarkable third in the first Australian women's relay team with Judi-Ann Barber, Gail Sandercock and Jenny Weir. [7] She went on to represent Australia in six more World Championships over fifteen years (1986, '87, 1991, '92, '93 and '97). [6] Fabian's brother George represented Australia in the Speed Skating World Championships in 1981, '82 and '83. [6]

A national record holder in the Master Ladies 45-49 division for 500, 1000, 1500, and 3000 metres, [5] Fabian still competes internationally, setting personal best records at the 2016 Alberta Open in Calgary of 48,98 (500), 1.40,25 (1000) and 2.38,40 (1500). [2] She is the 26th inductee to the Australian Ice Racing Roll of Honour, and the fifth female after Jeannette Neil, Teddi Jenkins, Rosalee Marcic and Judi-Ann Barber. [6]

In May 2013, the AIR Board elected Fabian chairperson of their Athletes Commission, [5] and in 2018 the Olympic Southern Flyers Ice Racing Club elected her a Life Member. [8] She still coaches "Learn to Speed Skate" sessions at O'Brien Group Arena in Melbourne, and her daughter Katie and niece Stephanie represented Australia at the Short Track World Junior Championships in Montreal in January 2019. [3]