Speedskating-online

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

Friday, 23 October 2009

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

Wednesday, 14 October 2009

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

Wednesday, 7 October 2009

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

Tuesday, 22 September 2009

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

It has been a strange season for Belgian short track speed skater Wim De Deyne. He was crowned European Champion in the 1000m, but only after fighting back from a serious injury that was the result of a crash at the first World Cup of the season. Also, he skated two (unrecognized) world records, but had to deal with sickness at the World Championships shortly after. All in all, it was a season of ups and downs, that in his own opinion nevertheless was a good test case for the upcoming Olympic season.

Read more

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

Saturday, 15 August 2009

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.