Paying his own way has changed Nguyen’s perspective
LAVAL, QUE.— Nam Nguyen has a new-found love for his sport. It partly took paying the bills to find it.
The 20-year-old from Toronto had intended to quit figure skating last season as part of a deal he made with his parents. But after not qualifying for the long program at the world championships in Milan, Nguyen wasn’t quite ready to walk away.
So, he’s assumed full financial responsibility for his figure skating, a sport that can come with a steep price tag. And he’s found a better sense of balance through doing so.
“In the past I felt like I didn’t always have the drive or motivation for anything, unless it was for a big event,” Nguyen said. “But now, because I have a plan, it just makes everything easier.
“You’re just put into this mode where you’re just constantly working, and so you can’t think about anything else because you don’t really have time to, and I’m starting to get used to that feeling and it’s a pretty good feeling, staying on track and not getting distracted with other things.”
Nguyen, Keegan Messing and Roman Sadovsky are the Canadians in the men’s field at Skate Canada International that begins Friday at Place Bell.
Japan’s Olympic silver medallist Shoma Uno is the favourite in the field, and should be pushed by South Korean teen Junhwan Chan.
Nguyen has been in and out of the international spotlight since he delighted the audience at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics as an 11-year-old, skating in the exhibition gala in suspenders and adorable Harry Potter-sized glasses.
He drew comparisons to Can- ada’s retired three-time world champ Patrick Chan when he won the world junior title in 2014. He was fifth the following year in his world senior debut. But the years since have seen him struggle with a massive growth spurt, and several coaching changes.
Nguyen is now coaching a group of kids six to 14 years old to help pay the bills.
“I think it’s cool to be part of the sport through another way, as a coach,” he said. “I get to share my knowledge and all that stuff with the younger kids and just see them grow and develop.”