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May 14, 2005
Video clip: Apolo's 1500m final in Saguenay
Here's the clip of the 1500m race in Saguenay last fall to go with the photos posted below. Great timing by Sonia, Janet and Maggie -- thanks, ladies!
Skaters in order of finish are: Apolo Anton Ohno (USA), Mathieu Turcotte (CAN), Steve Robillard (CAN), Shani Davis (USA), Volodymyr Gryhoryev (UKR), Charles Hamelin (CAN) and Jiajun Li (CHN).
Posted by noelle at 2:32 PM | Comments (11)
May 12, 2005
New photos from World Cup #4 in Saguenay (Dec. 2004)
Sorry for the lack of update lately! I still have plenty of photos from Saguenay and Budapest still to post (once I figure out where I left off). To get things started, the next set is from the 1500m final last December in Saguenay. Hope everyone is enjoying the off-season!
Getting ready to skate in the 1500m final
Posted by noelle at 9:53 PM | Comments (9)
Being introduced for the 1500m final
Posted by noelle at 9:52 PM | Comments (1)
1500m final: Jiajun Li ahead of Apolo Ohno and Shani Davis
Posted by noelle at 9:49 PM | Comments (0)
1500m final: Voldymyr Hryhoryev, Jiajun Li, Apolo Ohno, Mathieu Turcotte
Posted by noelle at 9:47 PM | Comments (1)
1500 final: Jiajun Li, Apolo Ohno, Shani Davis, Steve Robillard
Posted by noelle at 9:45 PM | Comments (1)
1500m final: Apolo Ohno and Jiajun Li
Posted by noelle at 9:44 PM | Comments (0)
Posted by noelle at 9:42 PM | Comments (1)
May 10, 2005
Travis Jayner back on U.S. ice to train
I received the article below with news on Travis' summer training plans. It's great to see some of the newer faces on the team get valuable training experience in the U.S. programs. Congratulations to Travis on making the move to Marquette for the summer!
Travis Jayner back on U.S. ice to train
Article published: May 10, 2005, via Times & Transcript of New Brunswick, Canada
MONTREAL - Travis Jayner dreams of Olympic and world championship appearances, but his attitude has always been the same.
Just take it step by step.
Admittedly, he's about to take a pretty big step.
Jayner, the rising short track speed skating star from Riverview, will head to Marquette, Mich. on Sunday where he'll train at the United States national speed skating training centre for the summer.
Jayner, who holds dual citizenship with the United States, made the U.S. national short track speed skating team in February.
"I think this is an important step. It will give me the confidence to know I can do it and it's one of the steps along the way," Jayner said yesterday from Montreal where he studies at McGill University and trains at the Montreal International Club.
"I think this shows it wasn't a fluke when I first skated for the U.S. back in December, it wasn't beginner's luck. This is what I want to pursue and get some experience and being invited to the American centre I want to support their program and have them support me."
Jayner, a Riverview High School graduate, earned a spot on the U.S. national team in February after placing seventh at the national short track championship in Milwaukee.
He first skated with the U.S. internationally in December at an International Skating Union short track world cup event in Quebec. Jayner decided to skate with the U.S. then - instead of Canada - because he felt he had a better shot of making the national team there sooner.
He is no longer eligible to compete for Canada.
"I'm very happy to make the team, it was the goal I had for the year. This is what I've had my mind set on and I even think I could have finished a little higher," said Jayner, who celebrated his 23rd birthday yesterday.
"For the first time trying to make the team, I'm very happy. Normally, I think it takes a couple tries to make the team. I think that's why I finished seventh, not second, just because of the experience of the guys there."
Jayner, who grew up training with the Riverview Speed Skating Club (now the Codiac Cyclones), will spend most of the summer training in Marquette, Mich. alongside the country's top skaters and will also visit the other U.S. national training centre in Colorado Springs, Colo.
"We'll do a lot of training. A lot on the ice, but also weights and running and all kinds of stuff. The big thing is access to ice. I've never really skated all summer, I always started in August and from what I understand I'll get there Sunday and we'll be on the ice on Monday," said Jayner, whose parents hail from New York City.
"It means I'll have access and more support from the team in terms of coaching and administrative support from the federation. They look out for you and help you out.
"I want to be stronger mentally and physically and being there will help me with both. I also want to focus and work on my technique."
After spending the summer training in Marquette, Jayner will focus on the U.S. Olympic trials in December, also to be held in Marquette.
The top five finishers at the trials will represent the U.S. at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy.
The Olympic trials will also be used to determine which skaters will head to the world championship in March.
"I wanted to go to Marquette because that's where the trials will be and I've never been there before. Spending the summer there will be great, I'll be able to get to know the rink, see what the ice is like on certain days and just get used to the environment," said Jayner, who is coached in Montreal by former Olympian Stephen Gough of Fredericton who used to coach the U.S. national short track team.
Jayner will head back to Montreal in the fall to continue training and taking courses at McGill. He wants to make very few changes to his routine leading up to the Olympic trials.
In the meantime, Jayner is just enjoying this current ride.
"This is what I dreamed about as a kid. At this level, there's really no timetable on it. I knew I could make it, whether it was when I was 18 or 28," he said.
"This is what I want to do. I'm in for the long haul and I love to do it. I'm passionate about it. I just love to skate. I love to go fast."
Posted by noelle at 1:32 PM | Comments (6)