Figure skatingCanadian figure skating blossoming at the right time

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“There hasn’t been an occasion since 1988 where we’ve had medals in three disciplines, which we also did last year at worlds,” said former Olympian and current Skate Canada executive Debbi Wilkes when asked about Canada’s Olympic hopes. “The versatility and potential of the Canadian team this year is leading the world.”

Wilkes should know. As a Canadian and North American pairs champion and Olympic and world medallist, she is also the director of marketing and sponsorship for Skate Canada giving her a lifelong perspective both personally and professionally on skating.

The Olympic test event for figure skating was just held in Vancouver at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, where Canada picked up three silver medals and one gold, further demonstrating the strength of Canadian skaters.

Five-time national women’s champion Joannie Rochette is already an early favourite for an Olympic medal. Having just defeated defending world champion Mao Asada of Japan at the Four Continents for a silver medal, the pressure and expectations are starting to intensify.

Former Canadian women’s champion, Liz Manley, the 1988 Olympic silver medallist had this to say about preparing for the Games.

“Twelve months before was a lot of planning and setting goals. We wanted to make sure programs were exactly the way we wanted them and the main job at that point was getting all the triples consistent. It’s also a little nerve wracking as all you can think of is: it’s only a year away. Ugh! "

So much can happen in a year. Just ask two-time Canadian ice dance champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir.

At this time a year ago, they were preparing to compete at the world championships in Gotheberg, Sweden, where they brought home the silver medal. Then, at the beginning of this season, Virtue was injured and had to take months off to recover from leg surgery. They lost the first half of the season and were only able to get back on the ice in December. They are almost completely back to form, but their experience shows how everything can change so quickly.

Patrick Chan has two national titles, a brand new Four Continents championship and is already on people’s minds as a serious contender for a medal in 2010. CBC figure skating commentator Tracy Wilson was an Olympic bronze medallist in ice dance in 1988 and remembers what it was like to be a favourite for a medal in her own country.

“When you are at the Olympics in your home country you are never able to forget that the Olympics are coming. On television, at the gas station, the grocery store and the bank everyone wishes you well but tells you to bring home the gold. As a medal hopeful there are expectations and they’re not just yours. It’s hard and it’s wonderful and there is no greater time of support.”

The Four Continent championship was the perfect place to taste a little of what that support could feel like with lots of noisy spectators on hand to support the skaters. Liz Manley captured what the support felt like for her as a Canadian athlete competing at an Olympics in Canada:

“Being Canadian was awesome. So exciting. Everyone was coming to my playground and I knew I had the country cheering me on. It was so great knowing that I would have my family there to help and love me.”

By all accounts, the business of the 2010 Olympic Games has already started: the pressure, the expectations, the excitement, the predictions and the planning.

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