Let’s get acquainted with the young Canadian single skater Nicolas Nadeau! He is a silver medalist at the World Junior Championships and the Canadian Junior champion, he lives in the city that will soon host the main competition of the season. Nicolas has a unique technique: unlike most skaters, he jumps and rotates clockwise. Even if this athlete has not yet achieved major titles, I am sure there are a lot of interesting things ahead. This is what Nicolas says about himself.
- Tell us, please, when you got interested in figure skating? What inspired you?
- I saw the Olympic Games when I was 4 years old. Asked my mom if I could try this sport out. At first, she said no, because she had a lot of transport to do for my sisters (2/3 were doing gymnastic), and also it’s a girly sport. So, my dad was reluctant to the idea. Then, when I was 6 years old, she got me into hockey. Since I had never skated before, she got me into figure skating (mostly to learn how to skate better for hockey). It turned out I never wanted to go to hockey and was always happy to go skating. Then I mostly stuck around because of my coach. I had a lot of talent in a bunch of sport but Yvan really took my attention and eager to learn.
- Tell us about your first victories in competitions. What is the most valuable medal for you?
- I can tell you about my first lost. It was one of my very first competitions and I arrived very last. I was pretty sad, but Yvan told me to flip the page around to see what would happen. Then I was first. My second medal at the Junior World (2016) was my most valuable one, because it’s a very good placement in a very high level competition.
- Unlike most skaters, you jump and spin clockwise. Who taught you such a unique technique? Does it give extra points at performances?
- I’m mostly ambidextrous in sport. When I began, on the very start, I had 2 teachers. One lefty and one righty. I would just copy them without knowing what I was doing: jumping lefty and spinning righty. Then when it was time to pick a coach, Yvan decided that I was more powerful on the lefty side. It doesn’t give more points. It was mostly annoying when I started, because I was going against everyone on the ice. I tend to enjoy it nowadays because of my height and my stature. It tend to scare competitor away.
- How long is She-Lynn Bourn your choreographer? How is the creative process of making programs with her?
- She is amazing, always finding what is right for YOU. It really feels like she is making art with you. It was a big difference from what I had before, where it was more like: «here is what you need to do, now do it! If it’s not good yet, work on it». Shae just gives you 20 things to try and ends up giving you the best for you.
- Is figure skating your main activity? Or do you have another profession and additional work?
- It has to be your priority. Though I keep going to school very part-time. In university I am studying kinesiology, and I coach a bit for some pocket money. But with all the on-ice training, conditioning training, dance class, psycologist appointment, physiotherapisy appointment, etc. and still being 100% ready when it is time to train (fully rested and physicaly ready), I’d be hard to have other main activity. I do play video-games when I have spare time.
@ Interview by Marina Chernyshova-Melnik
Read the Russian version of the interview with Nicolas Nadeau here
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