BY SCOTT HADDOW
Lively's Meagan Duhamel's rise in the
international figure skating scene has been dramatic and full
of sacrifice.
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Fresh off their gold and silver
medal wins overseas, Sudbury's Meagan Duhamel, and her
partner Ryan Arnold, wowed the crowd last Friday in
Azilda. |
In the past year, aside from a strong showing
in the ladies singles events, Duhamel, along with partner Ryan
Arnold, has blossomed into a force in the
pairs event. They have recently won gold and
silver medals in elite competitions in Germany and
Croatia.
In fact, the pair is doing so well they will
compete at the Canadian National Figure Skating Championships
in early January 2006 with Olympic berths to Turin, Italy on
the line.
The pair was at the Azilda Arena last Friday
to showcase their awesome skills in front of 50 star-struck
local skaters.
Duhamel and Arnold demonstrated what
sacrifice is all about when someone wants to make it to the
top.
After being on their skates for eight hours,
the pair, despite an injury to Duhamel, got back on the ice one
more time to perform a scaled-down version of their routine,
much to the delight of the young skaters.
"This sport is all about sacrifices," said
Duhamel. "My family and I have made many sacrifices and now
it's starting to pay off. I am still a long way to the end
result, but it has come a long way too. This is my sixth year
living away from home. My parents have worked two jobs for five
years to help
out. Just recently my mom was able to stop
working her second job. My family put their lives on hold for
me and I appreciate it."
Duhamel wants to electrify the crowds and
judges at the Canadian championships in pairs and ladies
singles competitions.
"I have never wanted something more in my
life," said the 19-year-old. "At nationals, there's an Olympic
spot open for both pairs and singles ladies
events. I have been working harder than ever
before. Everyday it's in the back of my mind. I want to win
more than anything. We're going to be there
and we're not going down without a fight. If
we skate up to our capability we will, no doubt, be in the
running for the 2006 Olympics."
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Despite an injury, Meagan Duhamel,
and her partner Ryan Arnold, performed a scaled-down
version of their routine to the crowd of star-struck
young skaters. |
The pair's long term goal is winning a medal
at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, but getting to the Olympics
early doesn't hurt.
"Going to Turin would be amazing," said
Duhamel. "Just to go and get the Olympic experience would be
great and helpful. It would help a lot towards our 2010 goal of
making it to the medal podium."
Arnold and Duhamel have rocketed up the
senior pairs international ranks at a dizzying blur, and made a
name for themselves earlier this year when they landed the
first ever side-by-side triple lutzes in a competition.
Arnold is impressed with Duhamel's grace and
skill, especially since this is her first year as a pairs
skater.
"Our relationship is going well," said
Arnold. "Last year was trial and error for us after being
thrown together. Our greatest strength is our individual stuff
because we're both singles skaters. Meagan is a strong skater
and getting better each day."
As for the local skaters, Duhamel was proud
of their development.
"I think the local skaters are great," said
the Lively native. "There's so much up-and-coming talent here
and they're progressing well. They have good technique and good
coaching, judging from how they're skating and where their mind
set is. No matter what, they can't give up. There's always
going
to be roadblocks and hard work pays
off."
