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Craine sparkles with super Free Skate

24/2/2018

 
PictureKailani Craine of Australia competes during the Ladies Single Skating Free Skating on day fourteen of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Gangneung Ice Arena on February 23, 2018 in Gangneung, South Korea. © 2018 Getty Images
Kailani Craine has finished her first Olympic campaign with another strong skate and a new season’s best in the Free program.

The 19-year-old waved at family members as she stepped on the ice, looking relaxed and at home on the world’s biggest stage.

“My legs were shaking a bit as I waited to get on, but once I was out there it all felt really natural – I was just so excited to be out there again,” Craine said.

“I wanted to really enjoy this whole experience and I did that.”

Craine opened with a triple lutz – double toe loop combination, before successfully executing all twelve of her elements.

“This whole experience has been everything I hoped for and more,” she saidsaid. “I just wanted two clean skates and I did that.

“This whole event has been a dream come true and I couldn’t ask for anything more. I’m just so happy and proud.”

Skating to a mix from the Moulin Rouge soundtrack, Craine sparkled in a new outfit.

“I got my dressmaker to make me a new outfit for this routine and I couldn’t have felt better out there, I felt so good.
“And to have my family here and my teammates, it has honestly been such a wonderful experience.”

Craine ended her Olympic debut ranked 17th overall. Alina Zagitova - who is only 15 years-old - and Evagenia Medvedeva, two Olympic Athletes from Russia, won gold and silver, and Canada's Kaetlyn Osmond won bronze.

Craine’s score of 111.84 was a new season's best, taking her total combined score from the two programs to 168.61, and will give the young skater confidence as she looks ahead to the future.

“I hope to be back in four years time and I’m going to work so hard to be even better next time,” she said.

“I’ve learnt so much from watching the top girls here and made so many friends.

“I'm so inspired I just can’t wait to see what the future brings.”

Katherine Firkin
olympics.com.au


Dream debut for Craine

22/2/2018

 
Picture Kailani Craine of Australia competes during the Ladies Single Skating Short Program on day twelve of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Gangneung Ice Arena on February 21, 2018 in Gangneung, South Korea. © 2018 Getty Images
Olympic debutant Kailani Craine has sailed through to the free skate of the Ladies Figure Skating, after a stunning short program which included a strong double axel and triple-double jump combination.

The 19-year-old impressed with her trademark artistic skills, performing to ‘dream a little dream of me.’

“That was great, that really was a dream,” Craine said immediately after her performance.

“My main goal was just to have a clean skate and get through to the free skate and I’ve done that so I can’t ask for much more.

“I’ve been feeling good the last few days and it’s felt like everything just went right for me, so I’m glad I was able to go out and do that.”

The Newcastle native was supported in the crowd by her parents, and skating teammates.

“The fans were amazing and I loved looking up and seeing the Aussie colours in the stands,” she said.

“Having mum and dad here was amazing. I really felt like they were out there skating with me.

“They’ve been on this journey with me from the very start and this is very much their Olympics as much as mine.”

Carine’s score of 56.77 saw her qualify straight through to Friday’s Free Skate.

Katherine Firkin
olympics.com.au


Brendan Kerry makes his mark in the men's free skate

18/2/2018

 
PictureFEBRUARY 17: Brendan Kerry competes during the Men's Single Free Program on day eight of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. © 2018 Getty Images
There's no doubt Australian figure skater Brendan Kerry has earned his place at the height of his sport, taking on the men's free skating event with a jam-packed program, that included two triple axels.

Overcoming a slight hesitation on his opening jump Kerry cemented his place in the top tier of international figure skaters, finishing 20th with a total score of 233.81.

"I wanted to make the most of this skate," Kerry said. "I wanted to go for everything."

"I was over-thinking as I went into my first jump, but I got it together.

"I wanted to go for my quads though because I know I can do them."

Skating to a mix of 'Shine on you crazy diamond' and 'Money,' the 23-year-old pushed through some early nerves to prove he can now mix it with the best in the competition.

"My whole feeling at these Olympics has been pretty relaxed, pretty chilled," he said.

"It feels like I've at least made up for that bad skate at Sochi. So that feels pretty sweet."

Kerry, who finished his short program in 16th place, with a technical score that had him at 13th, said he now plans on working on his performance and musicality.

"It feels amazing knowing that my technical score has improved so much," he said.

"If I can get my program component score up a bit more I think my overall score will keep improving."

The Sydney-born skater earned a score of 150.75 for his free skate, equalling his season best.

Kerry will now focus on the World Championships next month, before planning out his next four-year campaign, with his sights firmly set on making his 3rd Olympic Games in 2022.

Katherine Firkin
olympics.com.au


Kerry cruises through to Free Skate

17/2/2018

 
PictureBrendan Kerry of Australia competes during the Men's Single Skating Short Program. © Getty Images
He was here to prove a point, and Australian figure skater Brendan Kerry has well and truly done that.

A strong short program which included a powerful opening quad toe loop jump has seen the 23-year-old skater move straight through to the free skate event tomorrow, finishing in 16th place with the eighth highest Technical Score.

“It feels great, it feels freaking awesome, I’m not going to lie,” a beaming Kerry said. “I needed that skate.”

Skating to Everyone Wants to Rule the World, Kerry showed he was no longer the anxious Olympic debutant of four years ago, and instead, has well and truly etched his name into the top tier of international men’s skating.

“I was nervous, of course, but I knew I just needed to stay relaxed and do what I’d been doing in my practices.”

“I’m a much stronger skater than I was at Sochi and this time it felt like I actually deserved to be here, so I came in with a very different mindset.”

It’s been a long road to redemption for the former Sydney skater, who now trains in New Jersey with Russian coach Nikolai Morozov.

“After my first Olympics I knew I had to make some big changes,” he continued.

“I looked at what the elite skaters were doing and I decided I wanted to really go for it.”

Kerry needed a place in the top 24 to move through to tomorrow’s event, and his score of 83.06 – a new season best saw him guaranteed a place in that top group.

Katherine Firkin
olympics.com.au


History Makers – Aussie pairs skaters put on a show

15/2/2018

 
Picture
Australian pairs skaters Harley Windsor and Ekaterina Alexandrovskaya have made history, after performing their short program at the Gangneung Ice Arena on February 14.

With a strong skate that included a huge opening triple twist, Windsor has become the first Indigenous Australian to compete at the Winter Olympics.

“I was starting to feel a bit nervous last night,” a beaming Windsor said. “But I’m really happy with that. Yeah, that was amazing.”

The team skated second, posting a score of 61.55 – just below their seasons best.

“We feel good, happy,” Alexandrovskaya said.

They needed to finish in the top sixteen in their field to move through to tomorrow’s free skate, and while they completed a clean program, they finished in 18th place, just out of free skate contention.

“I don’t know how I’m meant to feel at the moment,” Windsor said. “I’m so happy to have skated at my first Olympics but I wanted to make it to the free skate.”

The 21-year-old was supported by his mother Josie in the stands, while his father and skating friends watched from back home.

“It felt good to have the support,” Windsor said. “It’s pretty special knowing so many people were cheering me on.”

And it wasn’t just the Aussies who were backing the historic skater – with Windsor getting swamped with international media requests as soon as he left the ice.

“The attention has been amazing and I just hope I’ll be a bit of a role model now,” he said. “Hopefully more Indigenous kids get into winter sports.”

The duo will enjoy supporting the rest of the Australian Team at the Games, before heading to Moscow to prepare for the World Championships.

Katherine Firkin
olympics.com.au


Kailani finds her feet

13/2/2018

 
PictureFigure skater Kailani Craine with coach Tiffany Chin after a practice session in PyeongChang. Photo: Katherine Firkin
She may have waited all her life for this moment, but Aussie figure skater Kailani Craine admits it’s taken her a while to settle in to the Olympic Village.

“It didn’t actually sink in for a few days,” Craine said.

“I felt so excited when I arrived, but then it was all a bit hard to believe. I ran around meeting lots of people and trying to see everything, but it still didn’t really feel like it was all real.


“My first practices were a bit shaky too, and my skating wasn’t as strong as I would have liked. I just felt a bit strange.”

But the 19-year-old said the privilege of marching in the Opening Ceremony, helped to ground her to reality.

“I was sitting in the bus with my teammates on the way to the mountain, and I looked at them and saw they were all dressed in the same uniform and it suddenly hit me.

“I let out a little yell of excitement. I was like ‘I’m actually here.’”

“Walking in to the stadium for the Opening Ceremony was everything I hoped for and more. I can’t actually describe how amazing it was.”

Since then, Craine says she’s settled down, and is getting into a good rhythm.

“It was like I needed the Opening Ceremony to wake me up a bit,” she said. “Now I realise I’m actually at the Olympics and this is the only thing I’ve wanted my whole life and I’m going to make the most of every single day.”

The Newcastle skater has also been helped by the arrival of her coach, Los Angeles based Tiffany Chin, who flew in last night.

“I’m so happy to have Tiffany with me now, and just having her on the barriers to remind me of little things to help my technique. Everything is feeling a lot better.”

She’ll also be joined by her parents and her grandparents in a few days, something she says will aid her motivation to perform.

“I really feel like it’s all of us out there competing, not just me. My family has sacrificed so much for me to do this and they’ve been on this journey every step of the way, so it won’t be just me out there on the ice, it will be all of us.”

Craine will skate her short program on Day 12 (February 21), and her free skate on Day 14 (February 23).

Katherine Firkin
olympics.com.au 


Pairs Figure Skating – Double the Fun, Double the Danger

12/2/2018

 
PictureHarley Windsor and Ekaterina Alexandrovskaya during their press conference in PyeongChang. Photo: Getty Images
ith just two days to go until Harley Windsor and Ekaterina Alexandrovskaya make history in the pairs figure skating, here’s what you need to know about the event, so that you can cheer loud and proud for our Aussies.

Pairs teams perform similar elements to single skating – such as jumps, spins and footwork – but they have to be done in unison. They also throw in some crazy acrobatic tricks, just for good measure.

Some of the moves that are unique to pairs skating include twists, throw jumps and twist lifts, and yes, there is a move called ‘The Death Spiral.’

The Death Spiral is one of the easiest elements to spot in the routine; it involves the male partner holding the hand of the female partner while she is fully extended away from him, pivoting around in an almost horizontal position, with her head scarily close to the ice. Thankfully no one has died doing a death spiral, as far as we know.

Just like in singles skating, pairs skaters perform two programs – a short program and a free skate.

The short program lasts a maximum of 2 minutes and 50 seconds, and has 7 required elements.

The free skate can last between 4:20 and 4:40 and is physically much more demanding, with a maximum of 12 elements.

For each performance, teams are giving a Technical Elements Score – which is basically a mark that reflects how difficult their elements were and how correctly they were performed – and a Program Components Score.

The Program Components Score consists of skating skills, transitions, performance, choreography and interpretation.
Both scores are combined to get a final mark.

Now to some expert commentary from our Aussie team:
“You have to be strong," said Harley Windsor.

Australia’s first Indigenous Winter Olympian admits he wasn’t quite ready for the transition from singles skating to pairs skating when he first trained with Katia:

“I just didn’t have the muscles for it. I didn’t know how much stronger you need to be to lift a partner above your head, and to hold some of the positions. I really had to work on my fitness.”

“We are just friends” – Ekaterina Alexandrovskaya

While it’s true plenty of Olympic Ice Skating Pairs are couples in real life – take the USA team this year as an example – just as many are not.  And Katia would like everyone to know that she and Harley are definitely NOT an item. “We are friends. We sometimes can fight on the ice. But we leave it on the ice.”

Windsor and Alexandrovskaya skate their short program on Day 5 (February 14).

Katherine Firkin
olympics.com.au



Breaking the ice – Aussie Pair set for history books

10/2/2018

 
PictureEkaterina Alexandrovskaya and Harley Windsor of Australia train during a practice session ahead of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Gangneung Ice Arena on February 8, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. © 2018 Getty Images
When Harley Windsor and Ekaterina Aleksandrovskaya take to the ice it’s them against the world.“It’s just us, we only think of us,” Windsor said. “We block everything else out.”

Their extraordinary journey – from complete strangers who lived on the opposite sides of the world, to Winter Olympians in just two years – is one that has seen the international skating fraternity sit up and take notice.

“It’s taken a while to get used to all the attention,” Windsor said. “I’m still learning how to speak to the media, how to tell my story without letting my inner bogan come out too much.”

Thankfully there was no sign of that ‘inner bogan’ when the team took to the ice for their first Olympic practice session today - a light session that saw their remarkable unison on display once more.

“It was pretty good today,” Alexandrovskaya said. “We did what we wanted. It was good.”

And, it’s been good since the start of the couple’s unlikely pairing in Moscow, at a trial session set up by Windsor’s coaches.

“I was ready to quit when I suddenly got a call saying there were some partners available in Russia,” Windsor said. “Within a week I had my Visa and flew over there. I had no idea what to expect but I wanted to give my skating career one more chance.”

“I was meant to try out with three different girls, but I trialled with Katia first and I knew I didn’t need to try with any others,” Windsor said. “We just clicked straight away.”

But their staggering rise through the ranks – which saw them claim the Junior World Championship Title in Taipai last year – hasn’t been without a lot of hard work, sweat, and tears.

“At first I found the move to pairs skating really hard,” Windsor said. “I was a singles skater before, and I really didn’t have the muscle strength for it.”

“For the first three months I’d finish training and just be completely exhausted. There was one day I tried to drive myself home and I was so tired I couldn’t even lift my arms to hold the steering wheel.”

“And I’ve never trained so hard before. Some days we do seventeen run throughs of things. Katia likes working hard, she’s used to training really intensely. It’s been a lot of work.”

But there’s no doubt the work has paid off, with the pair ready to make their Olympic debut, and Windsor set to etch his name into the history books – as the first Indigenous Winter Olympian.

“I really want to be a role model,” the 21-year-old said. “My Aboriginal heritage is part of who I am and I’m really proud of that. It will always be a part of me.”

And, while the young team are keeping their goal – a top 12 finish – realistic for this Games, Windsor says there’s no limit to how far this unlikely pairing might go.

“I think we will definitely have another one or two Olympics in us, and we will be aiming for a Grand Prix medal and maybe even an Olympic medal one day. This is just the start for us.”

Windsor and Alexandrovskaya compete their short program on Day 5 (February 14).

Katherine Firkin
olympics.com.au


Man on a mission – Brendan Kerry out for redemption

10/2/2018

 
PictureBrendan Kerry at Macquarie Ice Rink, Sydney - December 11, 2017. Photo: Getty Images
Watching Brendan Kerry take to the ice at PyeongChang, it’s obvious that the Sochi Olympian has changed.

“I feel in control this time around,” the 23-year-old said after an impressive training session.
“I’m just more comfortable.”

Kerry’s Olympic debut ended in heartache, with the then 19-year-old admitting he was overawed by the scale of the event, the media attention, and the crowds.

“I just wasn’t ready for it all,” Kerry said. “It was like I just couldn’t process it properly.”

But it’s a very different Kerry who’s skated in to Korea and he’s ready for his chance at redemption.

“There’s not that initial spark of excitement like the first Olympics, but I prefer it this way. I know what I can enjoy and what I need to wait for until after the event,” he said.

“Last time I spent my first few days running around, checking out all the venues, trying to meet everyone and get to all the events. This time I realise there’s no rush – I can do all that after my competition.”

The new and improved figure skater has also proved he isn’t scared of big decisions, changing coaches to Russian Nikolai Morozov just four months ago.

“I’ve made some big changes, but I had to,” Kerry said.

“I feel good about everything I’ve done. I’m in a good head space.

“My training has completely changed and I’ve learnt how much dedication it takes in all areas of life to be an elite athlete. When I went to the first Olympics I was like, ‘I go to the rink, I warm up, I skate, maybe I cool down and then I leave’. Now I know how important off-ice fitness is, I watch my diet, and I don’t go out all the time. I’m much more committed this time.”

He’s also committed to some of his favourite mottos, such as “pain is only temporary”, with the 23-year-old sporting numerous fresh tattoos.

“Since Sochi I’ve got, I think, maybe twelve tattoos,” Kerry laughed.

“I just used them as a way to remind myself of what’s important to me, and to keep me motivated to keep going.
“My favourite is the one on my forearm, it’s got four lines and the initials of all my sisters. My family is important, I always remember where I come from.”

And there’ll be plenty of family support in the stands – his mother, Monica MacDonald, who was her son’s former coach and a Winter Olympian is already here and his father will fly over in a few days.

“It’s great knowing they’re here and I have that piece of home with me,” Kerry said.

“Mum is the reason I started skating and dad has always been a big part of my life, so it means a lot that they’ll be here.”

While Kerry pushed hard to include three quad jumps in recent competitions, he plans on scaling it back for these Games, focusing instead on having two clean skates.

“I know I’m more than capable of doing the three quads but I know the best thing for myself will be to take that bit of stress off and just skate a really strong free program,” he said.

“I know what I’m focused on – I’m here to do a job.”

Kerry will skate his short program on Day 7 (February 16), and his free program on Day 8 (February 17).

Katherine Firkin
olympics.com.au


Australia’s ice princess set for fairytale skate

9/2/2018

 
PictureKailani Craine. Photo: Getty Images
FIGURE SKATING: Many consider it the most glamourous sport of the Winter Olympics program, and Australia’s figure skating hopeful Kailani Craine is more than ready to take centre stage.

“I am so excited to be here, I really can’t put into words what this means to me,” Craine said.

“This is the one thing I’ve wanted all my life and now I’m here.”

It’s been something of a fairytale rise through the ranks for the Newcastle teen. Craine started skating when she was eight, and quickly realised her potential.

“I just fell in love with the sport straight away, and that made all the hard work so much easier. I just really love what I do.”

But the four-time Australian Ladies Figure Skating Champion admits her hardest task lies ahead – her goal is to rank in the top 24 of the short program, to qualify for the free skate.

“I really, really want to be there for the free skate, I’m just so excited about that routine,” Craine said.

“I’m feeling good. I’m even getting my dressmaker to design a new costume for that program so I’m really hoping I get to wear it.

“I know that if I throw down a solid performance and have a clean skate it will be enough to get through. I just can’t let the little things slip.”

And speaking of slipping, the 19-year-old says she won’t let the fear of falling even enter her mind.

“I only focus on my technique, and I never doubt myself,” she said.

“I’ve waited so long for this moment, and I’m going to give it everything. I’m just so excited and I really just can’t wait to get out there.”

Her choice of music in the short program – ‘Dream a Little Dream of Me’ – is perhaps fitting then, as Craine waits to skate her dreams into reality.

Craine competes in the Ladies Short Program on Day 12 (February 21). The free skate will be held on Day 14 (February 23).

Katherine Firkin
olympics.com.au 


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