Can’t chill out
Julian could be skating on thin ice in manila
PETALING JAYA: There will be no easy competition for figure skater Julian Yee (pic) in the SEA Games, even if he is the first Malaysian to qualify for the event at the Winter Olympics in 2018.
The youngster, who is based in Canada, is aware that competition from the Philippines and Thailand has improved considerably over the years.
In the 2017 Games in Kuala Lumpur, Julian won gold by collecting 205.43 points but then silver medallist Michael Christian Martinez of the Philippines is also expected to be a hot favourite in Manila.
The 22-year-old Julian, from Kuala Lumpur, said his training programme in Canada was going according to plan, but said that he would not take any risks in the jumping variations because his main goal was to defend the gold he won two years ago.
“Everyone in the region is getting better. I’m focusing on what I can do, but at the same time, I will take each and every competitor seriously,” he said.
“We are in the Games for one reason - to do our best. Expectations are high, and the pressure is not only on me but the people around me as well.
“Let them (the rivals) do their own thing, and I will do my own job. On competition day, let the judges decide.
“With just a few weeks left, I will work to improve some of my elements and jumps. But there will be no major tweaks.”
As part of his preparations, Julian most recently took part in the International Skating Union (ISU) Skate Canada in British Columbia on October. He scored his personal best of 211.63 to finish ninth out of 12 skaters.
Although he was satisfied with the result, he felt some elements of his skating needed improvement and he will work on it with his coach Michael Hopfes.
“There were some jumps and skating skills I missed out in Skate Canada.
“In Manila, I need to enhance my choreography, so there will be lots of discussions and a little fine-tuning.”
Besides his plan to retain the gold in Manila, Julian also wants to give the sport more exposure in the South-East Asian region through his performance.
“I just want to inspire people and get them to try out figure skating. If I’m able to do that, it would be a great achievement.
“I just want the sport to grow in the region.”