Canada's Patrick Chan performs during ISU Grand Prix competition this season. The 16-year-old recently won the Trophée Eric Bompard in Paris. (Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press)
Q & A
Patrick Chan
Canadian teenager carving a name for himself in first senior season
Last Updated Tues., Nov. 20, 2007
Randi Druzin, CBC Sports
Canadian Patrick Chan recently won the Trophée Eric Bompard in Paris, the fourth of six events in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. Less than a year after finishing fifth at the Canadian nationals, the teenager sealed victory in France with an impressive free skate to Vivaldi's Four Seasons. Now preparing for the Grand Prix Final, Chan spoke to CBCSports.ca about his recent success and future prospects.
Your victory in Paris was considered an upset. Many people were surprised. Were you?
Yes, absolutely. I thought I had a chance at finishing second. I figured Alban Preaubert [of France] would skate the way he normally does and win the event. When he didn't, I was surprised. [Preaubert botched several jumps in the free skate and finished third overall, behind Chan and Russian Sergei Voronov.]
You landed six triple jumps in the first half of the long program but the second half was a bit weaker. You doubled a triple Salchow and fell in your final spin. What caused those mistakes?
Fatigue. I was tired because I had waited a long time to step on the ice. Four skaters went before me. I had never waited that long before, and wasn't used it. When you're waiting you walk around, you pace, you sit down. You're not sure what to do. It's draining.
What steps can you take to prevent that from happening again?
I can't do anything, really. Walking around more or less won't make much of a difference. I just have to get used to it. Of course, I could practice waiting. I could try leaving the ice in the middle of practice and waiting a while before returning. But that's not the safest thing to do.
You have now clinched a spot in the Grand Prix Final [in Torino, Italy] in December. What are your expectations heading into that event?
I have no expectations. I didn't even expect to be there. I expected to make the podium in at least one Grand Prix event, and I did that at Skate America [where I won the bronze] in October. I was happy with that. Everything else is like icing on the cake. I just aim to skate a clean program in the final, do all my triples and not fall on my last spin.
You won a silver at last year's junior world championships. You were the first Canadian man to win a medal at that competition since 1984. How did that success change the way your fellow skaters and others in the skating world see you?
There is not too much of a difference, but I do know a lot more people now. I think other skaters respect me a bit more. When they see me, they come up to me to talk.
Canada's Patrick Chan performs his short program during the Eric Bompard Trophy in Paris on Nov. 16. (Francois Mori/Associated Press)
You moved up to senior after wining just one medal at the junior level. Why did you move up so quickly?
Well, I did all there is to do at the junior level. There is not much point in staying in junior too long. Staying at that level wouldn't have made me less nervous in my first senior competition.
What is your strength as a skater?
My strength is the components part of my programs. I'm told my edges are very smooth.
What do you need to work on?
I need to work on my stamina. Part of that is getting used to skating later in the group. My choreographer and I are going to consider changing the routine a bit to make it easier for me in the middle. I also want to master two triple Axels and then start thinking about the quadruple jump. You need that to be a champion.
What is your goal for your career overall?
I hope I can compete in one or two Olympics in my career. Of course I would like to win a medal, but just being there would be awesome.
What was the first thing you did when you arrived home after the competition in Paris?
I breathed a sigh of relief. I missed home a lot. I'm not a big traveller. Paris is beautiful, but nothing beats home.
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