PJ Kwong
Favourite
skating moments, and we all have one or two, are not always about the making of
today’s champions…they sometimes say as much about the speaker, as they do
about the skating event or skater featured in that moment…in today’s Edgework:
SALLY REHORICK
Technical Merit - Personal and professional highlights
·
Chef de Mission for Team Canada, at the Salt Lake Olympics.
·
Long time national and international judge, and a founding
member of the Royal Glenora Club
·
Has the distinction of being the former Juvenile Ladies
Prairie Champion J
Artistic Impression - The essence of their story
‘When
I was asked to come up with a single memorable moment from skating, I have to
admit, it took me a minute, but I came up with one that, for me, will stay with
me for the rest of my life. I was lucky
enough to be a Team Leader, along with Mary Pearson, when Worlds were in
Paris. As Team Leader, you are responsible
for the welfare of the skaters, as well as acting as a “first line of defense”
regarding requests from the press, etc,…it was at these championships, that
Kurt Browning was ranked in 6th place going in, and was not expected
by anyone to do much better than that.
Consequently, for most of the event, he was pretty much left alone by
the world press. Surprise of surprises,
except to us, Kurt won his first World title, and there was a mad scramble by
the press to interview him. I remember
staying at the rink for a very long time after the event and the medal
presentation, in order that Kurt be able to accommodate the requests from, in
particular, the Canadian Press, who needed to juggle the time difference. It was very late, and the arena and the area
surrounding it were deserted when we left.
There were just four of us, Michael Jiranek (Kurt’s coach), myself, Mary
and Kurt, as we stepped into the warmish spring night air. Although exhausted, the satisfaction of
witnessing Kurt’s success had helped to keep up our energy. We walked only a few steps, when Kurt
stopped us. Huddled together in a
little group, he took out his medal, which had been resting against his skin,
close to his heart. He wanted us to
each touch it, which we did in turn. It
was warm from being beside his body, and he said that it was something that he
really was proud of. A moment so
touching and personal, and one that made me proud of being able to share it.