Chan, Virtue and Moir among 17 figure skaters to Sochi
Following a tremendous weekend of competition at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Skate Canada has nominated 17 figure skaters to Sochi 2014.
Three athletes will represent Canada in the men’s competition, led by seven-time Canadian champion Patrick Chan. He is the reigning three-time World Champion. Sochi will mark the second Olympic Winter Games for Chan, who finished fifth at Vancouver 2010.
Joining the Canadian champion in Sochi are Kevin Reynolds and Liam Firus to round out the men’s selection.
Photo: (L-R) Reynolds, Chan, Firus
A winning performance following a return from injury has propelled Kaetlyn Osmond to Team Canada for Sochi. The National Championship in Ottawa over the weekend was her second consecutive Canadian title.
Gabrielle Daleman will join Osmond at the ladies’ event in Sochi.
Photo: Kaetlyn Osmond
Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford will lead the three pairs teams to Sochi. The Canadian champions are to be joined by Kirsten Moore-Towers and Dylan Moscovitch, who placed second in Ottawa. Bronze medallists Paige Lawrence and Rudi Swiegers are also Sochi-bound.
Duhamel/Radford and Moore-Towers/Moscovitch set back-to-back Canadian records in competition on Saturday.
Photo: Duhamel and Radford
Defending Olympic champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir will be one of three Canadian ice dance teams in Sochi. They broke the Canadian record in Ottawa while winning their sixth national title. Since their Vancouver triumph, Virtue/Moir won a World Championships in 2010 and 2012 and placed second in that competition in 2011 and 2013.
Also headed to Sochi are ice dancers Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje, silver medallists in Ottawa and at 2013 Skate Canada International. Alexandra Paul and Mitchell Islam grabbed the final ice dancing spot for Team Canada.
Photo: Virtue and Moir
The figure skating competition in Sochi starts with the brand new team event getting underway on February 6, one day prior to the Opening Ceremony.
All Photos: Greg Kolz
