Did you know that the next Four Continents Championship will go in Australia? Figure skating also lives in this warm country on the edge of the world. Yes, it is not particularly popular on the "green continent", and at national Championships there are sometimes fewer participants than medals. But most importantly, there is interest and development. And the prestigious tournament, which will bring together the leading figure skaters from almost all over the world (except Europe), will definitely cause a hype among the local population. In Australia, this winter sport is exotic! I suggest you to take some time away from sports battles and get acquainted with Brendan Kerry – the Australian, who competes in men’s single skating. He is an eight-time Australian champion, a series B tournament medalist and a participant in two Olympiads. Brendan trained with Nikolai Morozov, and now he is preparing for the next season.
- Tell us, please, when you got interested in figure skating? What inspired you?
- My mother went to the 1988 Olympics for Ice dance and has always been and to date is a coach. So growing up I was always in the ice rink skating around in Hockey’s. One day I was at a skating competition she was a coach at and for whatever reason decided I wanted to try figure skating.
- Tell us about your first victories in competitions. What is the most valuable medal for you?
- My first time winning a competition wasn’t much of a big deal to me because I was more concerned with trying to show off rather than where I would finish, on the podium or otherwise. My most valuable medal would probably be my first ever nationals medal. It was a year after I started figure skating and I was so nervous. I think I wore my medal under my jacket that whole week!
- You participated in two Olympics (2014, 2018). What are your impressions of these sporting events?
- The Olympics is completely unlike anything else in this world. Both the Olympics I went to were both so similar and yet completely different. I think once I leave competitive skating it will be the Olympic spirit & environment that I will miss most. There is this energy around the people and village that is incomparable to anything else I’ve ever experienced.
- Is figure skating popular in your southern country?
- I don’t think Figure skating is very popular in Australia. However, Four Continents will be there in 2021 & I’m sure that will really help to bring attention to the sport in Australia. We do have quite a few rinks throughout the country and they’re all of very good quality in my opinion. I’ve actually been recognized more so in the USA than in Australia. Journalism and interviews tend to really only occur during World Championships or Olympic Games lead up.
- Who is your coach now? Did you learn Russian after moving to Moscow?
- If I’m being honest I’ve unfortunately been a bit lazy with speaking Russian while in Moscow. I can understand quite a lot and can even read a fair bit. However, speaking I get kind of embarrassed and try to avoid it.
- Is figure skating your main activity? Or do you have another profession, additional work?
- I’ve done some university studies & was coaching in off season but as of right now I’m just focusing on skating. I think education and other hobbies/ activities are extremely important. However, I’m at a point in my life where I want to be able to focus on goals in one aspect of my life at a time instead of spreading my time & attention into too many places for myself to manage.
@ Interview by Marina Chernyshova-Melnik
Read the Russian version of the interview with Brendan Kerri here
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