BY SCOTT HADDOW
Meagan Duhamel will not let the
disappointment of not making the 2006 Olympic Winter Games
throw her off her game.
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Meagan Duhamel, shown here with
partner Ryan Arnold, has finished her season and feels
great about the results. |
Instead, she will use her energy on making
Team Canada for 2010, when the world's largest sporting event
takes place on Canadian soil in Vancouver and Whistler, British
Columbia.
Duhamel has finished her 2005-06 season, and
despite losing the chance to represent Canada in Turin, she had
a strong showing at the Four Continents event to finish her
year.
"I performed more consistently this season
than I have in the past," said the Walden native. "I reached
most of my goals, except for the ultimate one - making the
Olympics. I didn't skate well at nationals, finishing fourth,
and the Canadian team only took the top two skaters to Italy. I
was disappointed because I knew that second spot could have
been mine if I skated well. I was able to go to the Four
Continents championship and finished fifth. That
was a huge accomplishment for me because it
was the biggest competition I've ever been to."
The 2010 Olympics will always be on her
mind.
"Not making it this year is only going to
make me work harder for 2010," said Duhamel. "I have struggled
at nationals every year, but I did win medals internationally
this season, so the potential to go to Torino was there for me.
It only makes me want to come back stronger next season and
beyond. The opportunity to go in 2010 will be there in the
future and I want to be there."
Duhamel raised her world rankings by her
solid performance at the Four Continents.
"There were skaters from North America,
Africa, Asia and Australia and some of them were going to the
Olympics," said the 20-year-old. "It was nice to compete
against them and raise my world ranking to 36 overall and that
includes juniors and seniors. I really moved up this
year."
Duhamel has learned a lot about herself in
the last year.
"I learned what I can really achieve when I
push myself," said the skater. "I never worked as hard as I did
this past year. I reached so many little things that were a big
step up for me, including my attitude at competitions and
practices."
Duhamel's coach, Lee Barkell of the Mariposa
International School of Skating in Barrie, was impressed with
Duhamel's efforts on and off the ice.
"Meagan had a really good year when you put
it into perspective," said Barkell. "She had great results in
both pairs and singles. She has really matured as a person in
the last two years and becoming more confident in her skating.
It's only her second season competing at the senior level and
the results were good. She's capable of a lot more."
Duhamel was back home recently. She was
performing at the Walden Winter Carnival in a show called Blast
from the Past.
Even though it's her off-season, Duhamel will
remain busy, performing at nine more shows and putting on a
seminar in Saskatoon.
"I am really busy and there's no real time
off at this level," said Duhamel. "It's always nice to come
home and perform. It's good because a lot of these local
skaters don't get to see this level of skating often, so it's
good for them to see it."
Duhamel skated with Jamie Forsythe, as her
regular partner, Ryan Arnold, was unable to attend. Forsythe,
who was third at the junior nationals this year sees Duhamel as
the consummate professional.
"I can honestly say I don't know anyone who
works harder and is more committed than Meagan," said Forsythe.
"Doing both pairs and singles at an
elite level is just amazing. I couldn't
imagine doing it, so I give her all the credit in the
world."
