Vancouver Medallists - looking back.
Gold for her country
Until a few years ago, South Korea was known for some great speed skaters, but never for figure skating. One talented teenager changed all that - Yu-Na Kim. Within a few years she won every title there is to win and broke every record there was to break in figure skating. In the process she became her country's number one celebrity.
Her coach (and himself a Canadian skating legend), Brian Orser described travelling with Yu-Na as like being with Princess Diana. In Vancouver photographers were hiding in the lockers overnight to to have a shot at getting near the ice to photograph her olympic moment. With all this pressure and the eyes of her country on her, Yu-Na delivered, hammering the competition and winning her country's first olympic medal in skating.
When Only Gold Will Do.
Silver medallist Mao Asada looked in serious need of a hug on the podium. Rather than proud of her achievment she was devistated. 2nd was a loss.
Mao was perhaps cursed with bad luck and a bad birthday. In 2006 she was 87 days too young to compete in the olympics in Turin. In that year at other competitions she beat all 3 of the torino olympic medallists. She may have been the best in the world at 15, but she would have to wait her turn.
Over 4 years she definitely improved and developed, breaking records and winning gold medals in the process. But by the time Vancouver came around most of the world was already counting her out. Her skates in Vancouver were great- but not quite as great as Yu-Na's.
Mao didn't dwell on her disappointment for long. She was back practicing just days after the olympics so that, a month later, she was able to win the world championship gold (Coincidently- in Turin). Then she could smile again.
As good as Gold.
Without doubt the most courageous performance of Vancouver 2010 was that of Canadian Joannie Rochette. Rochette was woken by her father in the olympic village 2 days before her skate to be told her mother had died of a heart attack. Thérèse Rochette was in Vancouver ready to watch her daughter compete- their life's work and dream.
In honour of her Mother, Joannie bravely decided to go ahead and compete. She kept it together and skated personal best scores in both programs to win a bronze medal, for herself, her mother and for Canada. The Canadian team honoured her for her bravery and Joannie carried the Canadian flag at the closing ceremony.
So anyway, there was no particular reason for me to write this little summary, and no particular reason for you to read it. But if you have - thanks and I hope you enjoyed it! Hilights of the figure skating from vancouver (as well as all the sports) can be found here.
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