Blanchard brings home the gold yet again
Well-known local figure skater Sarah-maude Blanchard did not only win first place at the Quebec Summer Championships, she also beat her personal best for her long program, bringing her one step closer to her ultimate goal: the Olympics.
Last weekend Blanchard skated against some of the country’s best figure skaters. With two junior teams, each composed of over 30 opponents, she still managed to maintain her winning streak in the singles Junior competition and make her town proud.
“The biggest stress was getting past the short program. Once I did well there, I knew I was good for the long program,” said 17-year-old athlete. “And I was, because I beat personal best. I earned 97 points.”
Blanchard competed in the short program last Friday. Like the name suggests, it is a shorter routine that must include 3 jumps. The very next day she did the long program, which entails a completely different routine with seven jumps. Luckily, air time is her specialty.
“Ever since I was little my best and favorite part of figure skating has been the jumps. It gives me an advantage, because typically that’s what people struggle the most with. It’s hard. Some people can’t even make it off the ice,” said Blanchard, who’s been on ice since she was four. “For me, the toughest part is what we call skating skills. It’s the part everyone has to constantly work on, just brushing up on the basics. It’s the worst because it’s a long process and you never really feel like you’re improving, but you know you have to keep going.”
And keep going she does. Blanchard shared that she skates at least three hours every day, and that on top of that she does weight training, dance and ballet to stay in top form. Now that she’s graduated high school, Blanchard wonders how her new start at the CEGEP de Sherbrooke in pure and applied sciences will affect her training.
“I guess it’s going to be different. I used to wake up early to get my skating in before class, and then work out after school. If I’m honest, last year was hard. I missed a lot of school for competitions,” she said. “But I manage, and my friends are super understanding about how busy I am. Now that I’m heading to CEGEP, I’m only going part time, so organizing my time should be easier.”
“My priority is always skating, I’ve always been passionate about it, and that’s still true today. I might have days where I’m tired and not as motivated, but then I’m on the ice and I know it’s my happy place.”
Her happy place sometimes comes with some inconvenience though. Blanchard bought new skates two years ago, and they caused her to develop painful cysts on both her feet. She postponed the surgery in February, so she could attend a competition in Italy, and isn’t planning on rescheduling any time soon.
“It’s really super painful, but it’s recently stopped hurting. It might come back, it has before, but I can’t afford to lose any training time. I’d have to stop skating for two months because of the surgery.”
Since she is turning 18 soon, Blanchard only has one last junior competition left before she becomes part of the senior division.
“My last one is the Vancouver Grand Prix. This one is international. I’m really excited because it’s my first one of this kind. People will be coming in from all over the world. Girls from Japan, Russia, they’re supposed to be fierce,” she said, adding that even so, she’s not nervous. “The hard part was getting to this point. There’s not as much pressure. I think it’s going to be fun. There’s the show-off aspect, you represent your country at these competitions.”
Once Blanchard becomes a Senior, she will officially be eligible for the Olympics.
“I’m aiming for the one in four years, and if not, the one in eight. To be selected for the Olympics I’m going to have to be in the top three at Nationals, so that’s my next step.”
Blanchard will be flying off to Vancouver to compete September 2 and will only return September 16. Hopefully, she’ll come back with yet another gold medal between her teeth.