Saturday at the BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships was memorable to say the least and it started me thinking.
Canadians watched the podium story unfold in such a way that not only were titles defended in the pairs, women and dance but that the skaters in each dominated their event to the degree that not only did they become the gold medallists they earned the right to be called Champions.
In my mind, winners aren’t always “champions” and it takes a special kind of performance to really earn the moniker.
Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison were more than memorable in their free program to The Way We Were. On the surface the program was always lovely to watch with a romantic quality that was able to draw the spectator in. What was different in their winning free program was that beyond that “soft” quality, they showed that they have the “technical goods” to compete and the gritty determination it takes to deliver.
Ice Dance is being re-defined by Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir whose free dance is among the fastest 4 minutes in skating. You blink and the program is over. Scott’s Uncle Paul, who won’t be at the Olympics, told me that the service clubs like the Lions Club in Ilderton have helped in booking a hall and renting big screen TVs in Ilderton for Scott’s hometown to be able to watch their Olympic performances and if they skate like they did here, there will be lots to see.
My favourite had to be the women’s free: Joannie Rochette connected with the complex Delilah in her free program and skated with a vengeance. It was like watching someone on a mission. She skated with passion and fire and every step of the way seemed to be daring the viewers to doubt her. Her skating said “bring it on.”
As I said: not all winners are “champions” but all champions are definitely winners in one way or another.