Olympic bound
Local skaters Weaver and Poje headed to Korea
VANCOUVER — The veterans of Canada’s figure skating team grew up together, and together at the Pyeongchang Olympics, they’ll write the final chapter of their careers.
They’re hoping they’ve saved the best for last.
Led by veteran ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, pairs partners Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford, and Patrick Chan — all of whom plan to retire post-Pyeongchang — Canada heads into the Olympics ranked No. 1 in the world in the sport. And 17-skaters strong, Canada will field the largest team there.
“We have one of the strongest teams in Canadian skating history,” Radford said. “Each discipline has incredible talent, incredible skaters and athletes. And I think we’re very much all on the same page, which I really, really love. We’re a really strong, close-knit group, and we’re going to carry that energy, and I hope that it really helps us to have our best performances there.”
Figure skating is traditionally one of Canada’s strongest winter sports, with 25 medals — including four gold. This year’s team has amassed eight world titles, Chan and Virtue and Moir winning three apiece, and Duhamel and Radford claiming two. Ice dancers Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje have two world medals, and last spring, Kaetlyn Osmond and Gabrielle Daleman became the first Canadian women to share a world championship podium, winning silver and bronze.
The team was announced Sunday morning at the University of British Columbia, a day after the Canadian figure skating championships. One by one the skaters walked on stage. Proud parents dabbed at tears.
“When I look at the group up here on the stage, it’s pretty impressive,” said Mike Slipchuk, Skate Canada’s high performance director. “It’s going to be special. It’s going to be sad in a way, but special.”
Eleven team members have Olympic experience, compared to both the Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014 teams, which had just three skaters each with Games experience.
Chan and Virtue and Moir made their Olympic debuts eight years ago in Vancouver.