Let’s just get this out of the way: no new event at the Sochi Games can hold a candle to the Olympic debut of mixed relay biathlon. But team figure skating will come close. That’s because it’s one of the 12 competitions making their first Olympic appearance that Canada just might have its strongest chance at a podium finish.
Just a few short days before the “traditional” programs kick off, the top-10 skating nations will compete in the new team event, in which a single medal is awarded based on the combined scores in each of the five skating disciplines: men’s and women’s pairs and singles, as well as ice dance.
So far 2013 has been a strong year for Canadian skaters. At the worlds in March, Patrick Chan took gold with a record-setting performance, while 2010 gold medalists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir won silver in ice dance and the pairs team of Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford won bronze. Throw in a deep list of Olympic hopefuls like Kevin Reynolds, Kristen Moore-Towers and Dylan Moscovitch, and 17-year-old Katelyn Osmond, and we’re a serious contender. “Canada has its strongest team ever,” says Liz Manley who won silver at the 1988 Calgary Games. “I know the skaters are excited about the event and the opportunity to bring home another gold.”
But that will have its challenges. Namely, Sochi will be the first time that both team and individual competitions will take place at the same event, leaving skaters and coaches triple Salchowing on new ice. “We’re just in the process now of working on our plan and how we’ll field our team,” says Skate Canada Director of High Performance Michael Slipchuk. “We’re just trying to look at what’s best for everyone in terms of both their individual opportunity and for the team.”
Though there is the notion that the added competition early will put skaters at risk for injury later in the Games, that’s not a major concern. “That’s the part of the season when our skaters are peaking, so they’re all going in prepared to compete in multiple events,” says Slipchuk, who represented Canada in singles at the Lillehammer Games in ’92.
What’s more, the chance to win the first-ever gold in an Olympic event is an opportunity nobody wants to pass up. “The toughest thing for us is that we’ll have 17 skaters and only eight or 10 will be able to compete,” says Slipchuk. “We’re well represented in all four disciplines, and in almost all of the disciplines we have depth. It’s a unique position.”
Now, if only there was a relay element. And rifles.