Stojko adds yet another silver to his collection
Ex-skater second in martial arts Canadian team upset over results
NIAGARA FALLS—
Elvis Stojko has won silver again, but it has nothing to do with figure skating. The two- time Olympic silver medallist on the ice won a silver medal at the World Kickboxing and Karate Association championships yesterday. With a standing-room only crowd packed around the ring, Stojko performed a two- minute traditional soft- style karate forms routine, earning scores ranging from 9.87 to 9.89. With top and bottom scores removed, Stojko finished just behind gold- medal winner Alessandro Aggio of Italy. Nigeria’s Jfka Ikemi won the bronze while Canadian Richard DeBorja was fourth. The Canadian team was upset over the results as Aggio and Ikemi performed more artistic routines while Stojko and DeBorja displayed traditional martial arts.
Stojko said he is anxious to do away with the judges.
“ It’s that subjective crap we’ve seen over and over again,” said Stojko.
“ Next year we’re going into the fighting ring, then there’s no subjectiveness. If you knock the guy out, it’s done. That’s what’s nice about not being in skating anymore.” The style of martial arts Stojko competed in this year was restricted to judges’ point of view. But he said he will try to qualify for the 2006 WKA championships in full- contact kickboxing.
“ Our style is combat only and that’s what it’s about. As we say, if you can use it in a fight, it’s traditional,” he said. When Stojko won a silver medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics, he used a kung fu- inspired routine designed by Stojko’s karate coach Glen Doyle that raised some eyebrows in the skating world.
It was vice-versa yesterday when Stojko’s routine featured a mixture of quick punching, spinning and fast footwork which seemed to be skating inspired.
“ The thing I bring over is just my focus,” he said. “ Being up on top of the world in skating I can bring that energy and focus here.”
“ Rich ( DeBorja) was my toughest competitor here because we were doing traditional kung fu,” Stojko said. “ I was disappointed that he was fourth — there was just no way.’’