Roller Derby is a tough sport, but it’s also a sport that can be incredibly empowering. St. Elmo (also called Elmo for short) is a roller derby player with the Honey Island Rollers, a Maltese league. In this blog, we’ll learn more about her journey and what she loves about the sport.
Elmo is originally from Norway and did her rookie course in Oslo in 2015/2016. After a long break, she joined the Honey Island Rollers in 2020 during the pandemic – when the league was practicing with face masks and no contact. Despite the challenges of starting a new sport during a pandemic, St. Elmo has been able to find a community with the Honey Island Rollers that has embraced diversity.
One of the things that St. Elmo loves about roller derby is how it has taught her to appreciate what her body can do instead of focusing on how it appears. Roller derby requires a lot of physical strength and endurance, and it’s a sport where players come in all shapes and sizes. Elmo’s love of defence in handball as a kid may have been a pointer forward to how much she enjoys delivering derby hits.
When asked about her favourite film, song, or food, Elmo says that melted cheese melts her heart. And when asked for advice for new skaters, she says to try, and that there’s no such thing as “fail” in roller derby. Everyone has their individual journey, and the most important thing is to keep trying and pushing yourself.
Who is roller derby for anyway?
What St. Elmo loves most about the Honey Island Rollers is how diversity is embraced. Roller derby is a sport that attracts all kinds of people, and it’s a sport where individuality is celebrated. Despite the physicality of the sport, it’s also a sport that fosters a strong sense of community, and that’s something that St. Elmo has found with the Honey Island Rollers.
Elmo’s journey with the Honey Island Rollers is a testament to how roller derby can bring people together and create a strong sense of community. Roller derby is a sport that welcomes all kinds of people, and Elmo’s story is an inspiring example of how anyone can try something new and find a community that embraces them.
Has Elmo’s story inspired you? Get in touch with us if you’d like to join the Honey Island Rollers!