Chan prepared for Sochi
Skater will use Vancouver experience to help deal with the challengesCanadian figure skater Patrick Chan speaks during a news conference Tuesday at the BMO Centre in Hammonds Plains. (CHRISTIAN LAFORCE / Staff)Patrick Chan didn’t expect to be competing at two Olympics.
But as the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, draws closer, the reigning world figure skating champion is looking forward to better results than his fifth-place finish in Vancouver in 2010.
“The first Olympics in Vancouver, I got the shock of being in the Olympics out of the way,” Chan told a group of reporters at the BMO Centre in Beford on Tuesday.
“The first Olympics is about being able to manage the big media attention. It’s a very unique thing that we don’t experience at all as amateur athletes until you get to the Olympics. So for me, especially being Canadian and going to Vancouver, my home country, was a very difficult challenge.
“I learned a lot from the minute I stepped into the opening ceremony. I started a new chapter in my life and my career as a skater and it will make things a lot easier when I get to Sochi.
“I’ve been to Russia many times. It’s familiar territory. I’m very excited to go to the Sochi games. I never thought I’d go to a second one.
“To have the opportunity to go, I’m very fortunate. As for the result, I’ll be expecting better results. I’m much more physically sound and mentally sound, because I don’t have any doubts in my mind.”
The 21-year-old, who splits his time between Toronto and Colorado Springs, will be getting some help on his Olympic journey from the World Chinese Business Association of Canada’s Nova Scotia chapter.
The group held a fundraising dinner on Tuesday night at Casino Nova Scotia in Halifax. Earlier that day Richard Wong of Vancouver, the group’s national chairman, told a news conference that he had been shocked to learn that Chan’s training budget for 2009, the year before the Vancouver Olympics, was $250,000.
“I thought he deserved help from the community and our organization decided to organize a fundraiser so he could further excel.”
The first fundraiser for Chan was held in March 2009 in Toronto and the organization has also held fundraisers in Vancouver. After the Halifax event, the five-time national champion heads to another fundraiser in Winnipeg.
Wong said Chan, born in Ottawa, who speaks English and French, and is the current world record holder in short and free programs as well as total score, is a Canadian hero and an exceptional ambassador.
Wong also noted his organization supports people of Chinese and non-Chinese heritage in academic, sport and entrepreneurship categories.
On March 31, in Nice, France, Chan became the first man to win back-to-back world titles since Switzerland’s Stephane Lambiel in 2006. He was undefeated last season winning the Skate Canada and Trophee Bompard Grand Prix events, the Grand Prix final and Four Continents as well as the 2011 Lou Marsh Award, given to Canada’s top athlete.
On Tuesday, dressed in a red Skate Canada pullover and beige pants, the smiling skater said winning his second world title was more difficult than the first. His flawed free skate included a rare fall on his last jump.
“The first world championships I won in Moscow were easier and it was a great year, a much better year than this past season,” he said. “To have that little bump in the road, but still being able to defend my title at world championship, I was lucky, I’d say. I made more mistakes than in world championships in Moscow, but that leaves always room to improve.”
After successfully defending his world title, Chan said he spent a lot of time in Asia doing shows and has just finished a two-week vacation where he “had a blast” surfing in Indonesia. He also spent time in Singapore where he loves the food and culture and has many friends.
He’s now getting ready to head to Toronto to work on two new programs. He’s going to work with a new choreographer, who he won’t name yet, and has not yet chosen his music. (Wilson, Buttle or his girlfriend's mum? )He’s been working with Toronto choreographer Lori Nichol for five years. In mid-April, coach Christy Krall resigned citing a difference in coaching philosophies.
Chan trains about 25 hours a week, noting he spends almost as much time off the ice as on. He does regular workouts including running and weight training and has been practising modern dance for about a year and a half.
“It’s a whole different realm of movement than physical exercise,” he enthuses. “There’s flexibility and strength you don’t get from any other exercise.”
The lithe skater, who landed two clean quads in this year’s free program at worlds, talks about adding a quad flip or quad Lutz to his repertoire, though he’s not guaranteeing they’ll appear in next season’s programs. But working on new choreography and new quads will keep things fresh and exciting, he said.
When he’s not training, Chan enjoys videogames, food, hanging out with friends and movies. He’s a huge superhero fan and recommends the Avengers. When it comes to food, he said he always loves a good hamburger.
May 23, 2012 - 4:11am BY ANDREA NEMETZ STAFF REPORTERhttp://thechronicleherald.ca/sports/992 ... -for-sochi