Countdown to Sochi: Weaver/Poje chemistry could double medal count
As part of our countdown to Sochi 2014, Olympic.ca is showcasing 14 Canadian medal contenders in 14 weeks. Each week we take a look at an Olympian with a chance of reaching the podium for Canada come February.
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This week we look at…
Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje
Ice dance is one event at the Olympic Winter Games from which Canada could leave Sochi with two medals. While defending Olympic champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir are favourites, the pairing of Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje can’t be overlooked.
Video: Weaver/Poje on how Virtue/Moir push them to excel.
What makes them a medal contender?
Chasing dreams is nothing new for Weaver, who moved from the United States to Canada to pursue her ice dance ambitions. She met the Ontario-born Poje in the summer of 2006 at his hometown in Kitchener-Waterloo and their chemistry was immediate.
The pair won the bronze medal at the 2007 World Junior Championships and the silver in the 2008 Canadian Championships. Weaver became a Canadian citizen in 2009, that same year they won their first Grand Prix medal, before narrowly missing out on the Olympic team for Vancouver.
In the years since that disappointment, Weaver/Poje have made massive technical improvements that saw them finish in the top five for three straight World Championships from 2011-13. Most recently, they won silver behind Virtue/Moir at 2013 Skate Canada International and are looking to win their second Grand Prix medal of the season at the Rostelecom Cup in Moscow late November.
UPDATE: Weaver/Poje won their second Grand Prix silver medal of the season in Moscow on Saturday, November 23.
Canada has won just two Olympic ice dance medals, a haul that could be doubled if Weaver/Poje and Virtue/Moir share the podium in Sochi.
More Weaver/Poje
Twitter: @WeaverPoje
Website: weaverpoje.com
