Speedskating-online
News and background stories
Countdown to Vancouver: Lucas Makowsky
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
So far, it has been a great season for Lucas Makowsky. He raced to his first individual World Cup medal, in the 1500m in Hamar, after which he went on to qualify for the Olympic 1500m and 5000m by finishing first in both distances at the Canadian Single Distances Championships/Olympic Trials in Calgary. On top of that, he continuously managed to improve his personal best times in the 1500m as well as the 5000m over the past few months. With the Olympics just around the corner, Makowsky talks about his season so far and reflects on how he is looking forward to what will be his first Olympic Games.
Countdown to Vancouver: Kyle Parrott
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
After qualifying for three Olympic distances by skating to bronze medals in the 500m, 1000m and 1500m at the Canadian Single Distances Championships/Olympic Trials, Kyle Parrott will be busy at what will be his first Olympics. Especially his 1500m qualification may have come as a surprise, possibly to himself included, since it’s not a distance he frequently races. Moreover, he had been sick ever since before his 1000m at the Olympic Trials, and consequently was not planning on racing it in the first place. However, by skating the 1500m after all and qualifying, he not only did himself a favor, but he also helped out teammate and friend Jamie Gregg. With the Olympics only a few weeks away, Parrott reflects on his season thus far and looks forward to the most important event of the season, that will take place just minutes from his condo in Richmond.
Countdown to Vancouver: Anastasia Bucsis
One of the biggest surprises of the Canadian Fall World Cup Trials in Richmond last October was Anastasia Bucsis. Seemingly out of nowhere, the Talent Squad member claimed the overall bronze medal in the 500m, thereby securing a spot on a World Cup team for the very first time. With the Canadian Single Distances Championships/Olympic Trials just around the corner, Bucsis looks back on her World Cup experiences in Europe and North America and talks about the Olympics, her idols, the meaning of life, and her goals for this season.
Countdown to Vancouver: Richard MacLennan
It has been a good season for Richard MacLennan thus far. At the Canadian Fall World Cup Trials in Richmond last October, the 18-year-old qualified for the alternate spot in the 1000m, and second alternate spot in the 500m, which in the end earned him an actual spot on a World Cup team for the first time after some of the Canadian sprinters decided to skip the World Cups in Berlin and/or Heerenveen. This gave MacLennan the opportunity to skate two 500m’s and a 1000m in Berlin and another 1000m in Heerenveen. After Heerenveen, MacLennan went back home to compete at the Junior World Cup in Calgary, where he raced to some great results, including two Canadian junior records.
Countdown to Vancouver: Mykola Makowsky
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
At the Canadian Fall World Cup Trials in Richmond last October, Mykola Makowsky finished 4th in the 1500m, thereby securing a spot on a World Cup team for the very first time. As a result, he debuted at the World Cup in Berlin a few weeks ago, where he competed in the 1000m and 1500m, after which he traveled to Heerenveen to skate another 1500m. Back home in Calgary, Makowsky reflects on his first World Cup experiences, and looks forward to the rest of this Olympic season.
Countdown to Vancouver: Vincent Labrie
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
After a season that was for the largest part overshadowed by an injury that he sustained at the second World Cup, in Heerenveen, Vincent Labrie thus far has succeeded in giving this Olympic season a good start. He already raced to some fast times at the weekend trials in Calgary and looks back on a good Fall World Cup Selection in Richmond, where he finished second in the 500m after two solid races. These results have shown him that he is now fully recovered from his injury and is ready for the season to come.
Countdown to Vancouver: Enrico Fabris
At the last Olympic Winter Games, in Torino in 2006, Enrico Fabris skated to two gold medals (1500m and Team Pursuit) and a bronze medal (5000m) in front of a home crowd. And even though he believes that no other Olympics will ever come close to topping the experience of winning three Olympic medals in his own country, Fabris is already looking forward to the upcoming Olympics in Vancouver.
Countdown to Vancouver: Denny Morrison
Even though he was off to a slow start at the Fall World Cups last year due to some equipment changes, Denny Morrison can look back on a successful second half of the previous season. He finished fifth at the World Sprint Championships, accomplished his first 1500m World Cup victory ever, claimed both gold medals in the 1000m at the Sprint World Cup in Kolomna, and capped the season with two podium finishes at the World Single Distances Championships in Richmond. All in all, the season was an eye opener for Morrison, that enabled him to fine-tune his skating for the upcoming Olympic Games.
Countdown to Vancouver: Jamie Gregg
Jamie Gregg looks back on a successful season. After several top 10 finishes at the World Cups, the national title in the 500m and a solid 13th place debut at the World Sprint Championships, he raced to an 8th place in the 500m at the World Single Distances Championships in Richmond. These performances have proven to him that he will have a decent chance of qualifying for his first Olympic Games, but he will not take anything for granted.
Countdown to Vancouver: Jay Morrison
Wednesday, 30 September 2009
After becoming a regular member of the Canadian Team Pursuit team, managing a good progression in the longer distances, and skating the 5000m at the World Single Distances Championships in Richmond, Jay Morrison can look back on a successful past season. And even though he may not have been completely happy with the way he skated some of his 1500m’s, Morrison is confidently looking forward to the upcoming season, during which he hopes to qualify for the Olympic Games in Vancouver.
Countdown to Vancouver: Trevor Marsicano
In terms of break-through seasons, Trevor Marsicano obviously looks back on one. After continuously showing progress throughout the season, he raced to some outstanding results at the World Cup Finals and the World Single Distances Championships last March, including the world title in the 1000m. Moreover, he was the first speed skater ever to finish this distance under 1:07, and in just that one race he brought down his personal best time from 1:09.16 to 1:06.88. After these impressive performances, Marsicano is now confidently looking forward to competing at his first Olympic Games, next February.
Countdown to Vancouver: Wim De Deyne
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
Countdown to Vancouver: Jeremy Wotherspoon
Tuesday, 8 September 2009
Last season was a season of recovery for Jeremy Wotherspoon, world record holder in the 500m. At the first World Cup of the season he fell and broke his left arm in several places, and consequently he was forced to focus his attention on his rehabilitation, instead of being able to use the past season to fine-tune his skating for the upcoming Olympic Games. Eventually, Wotherspoon did not manage to return to international competition before the season ended, but he is doing well now in terms of his health and his overall fitness is back to being as good as ever.
Countdown to Vancouver: Jordan Malone
Thursday, 3 September 2009
After skating the American Olympic Trials on a broken ankle four years ago, and consequently just missing out on qualifying for the Torino Olympic Games, the upcoming Olympic Trials later this month will be of great importance for short track speed skater Jordan Malone. Looking back on several severe injuries over the last four years and even starting out the past season with a broken foot, Malone is hoping for an injury free season during which he will be able to prove himself on an Olympic stage.
Countdown to Vancouver: Nicole Garrido
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
Nicole Garrido looks back on a rocky first season as a senior. She skated an eleven second personal best time in the 5000m at Finale in Calgary, but she also had to face some major disappointments over the course of the past season. However, instead of letting these setbacks get her down, Garrido decided to use them for the better and to let them contribute to her development as a person and as an athlete. So now, after a season of learning, Garrido is confidently looking forward to the upcoming Olympic season, during which she hopes to qualify for the Olympic Games in Vancouver.
Countdown to Vancouver: Brent Aussprung
American
long track speed skater Brent Aussprung can look back on a good year.
He skated at most of the World Cups throughout the season and managed
to pick up two silver medals in the B group along the way: one in the
500m in Nagano and one in the 1000m in Kolomna. These experiences have
given him confidence to race on a world stage, and consequently
Aussprung is anxiously looking forward to the Olympic season; the
season which he has been working towards ever since he started speed
skating nine years ago.
Saturday, 15 August 2009
Countdown to Vancouver: Charles Hamelin
Thursday, 6 August 2009
After numerous podium finishes at the World Cups, and claiming the overall bronze medal and the 500m gold medal at the World Championships, Charles Hamelin can look back on a very successful season. In fact, based on his past season’s results, Hamelin pre-qualified for the Olympic Games in Vancouver as early as last March. Not burdened with the pressure of having to qualify at the Olympic Trials, Hamelin reflects on his past season and on the Olympic season to come.
