Speedskating-online

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.

By Jolanda Abbes

How do you look back on your past season?

“The previous season was a good eye opener before the Olympic year. I learnt a lot of important things that will help me to skate more consistently in the upcoming season.”

What would you consider to be the highlight and greatest disappointment of the past season?

“The highlight for me was setting the 1500m track record in Erfurt. There have been a lot of World Cups at that oval and a lot of opportunities for the fastest skaters in the world to compete there. Setting a track record (especially on an oval that's hosted many competitions over the years) is a lot like setting a world record, just on a slower track. I guess my biggest disappointment of the season was basically every race before day 2 of the World Sprint Championships.”

How do you look forward to next season and to the Olympics in particular?

“Having used last season to figure out what skating technique works absolutely best for me and what skate setup is perfectly ideal for me, I am going into the Olympic season without questioning myself or what I'm doing to prepare for those races.”

What is the one thing/most memorable moment that sticks out for you when you think of the Olympics?

“When a Canadian wins gold and sings ‘Oh Canada’ while the flag is raised during the medal ceremony.”

What would you consider to be the highlight of the last Olympics?

“Cindy Klassen winning five medals. That's five of six possible medals available to her in this sport. That's the equivalent of Michael Phelps winning 20+ medals in swimming.”

And what was the biggest disappointment for you at the last Olympics?

“My performance in my individual races. I've learnt a lot in the last four years though and know I will be much more prepared for these Olympics in 2010.”

Who would you consider to be the greatest Olympic speed skater ever?

“Koss. Because he was really good.”

How do you look forward to the fact that the Olympics will practically be in your own backyard next year? Does that fact create extra pressure or do you think it will give the Canadian athletes a significant home advantage?

“I think it will give us an advantage. I love competing in front of my family and friends and know that there will be several thousand family and friends cheering for me from inside of the building as well as all over Canada, during the Games.”

Can you describe what the Olympics mean to you?

“The Olympic Games are the chance for athletes to showcase what they are capable of on the largest possible world stage, and because the Olympics are only every four years, this competition forces an athlete to showcase not only their strength and/or endurance, but also their mental ability to block out distraction and put everything together when it counts most.”

Photo credits: DESGphoto/Lars Hagen.