Tag Archive for: Patrick Chan

Patrick Chan Named Event Ambassador for 2023 Skate Canada International

VANCOUVER, B.C. (October 4, 2023) Skate Canada is thrilled to announce that Canadian figure skating legend Patrick Chan has been appointed as the Event Ambassador for the highly anticipated 2023 Skate Canada International. This prestigious event is set to take place from October 27-29, 2023, at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre in Vancouver, B.C., and will showcase world-class figure skating talent from across the globe. 

Patrick Chan, a three-time World Champion and two-time Olympic silver medalist, brings his unparalleled expertise and passion for figure skating to the role of Event Ambassador. As a beloved and iconic figure in the sport, his involvement will undoubtedly elevate the excitement and prestige surrounding the event. 

In his role as Event Ambassador, Patrick Chan will play a vital role in promoting the event, engaging with fans, and supporting the athletes throughout the competition. He will also participate in various activities and ceremonies, inspiring the next generation of skaters and fostering a sense of community among skating enthusiasts. 

“I am honoured to serve as the Event Ambassador for the 2023 Skate Canada International,” said Chan. “This competition holds a special place in my heart as it has been a significant part of my journey in figure skating. It will be a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the sport I love and to connect with fans and fellow athletes.” 

Skate Canada International is one of the most prestigious figure skating events on the international calendar, attracting top skaters from around the world. The competition serves as a crucial stop on the road to the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final® and provides athletes with the opportunity to earn valuable qualifying points. Fans can expect to witness breathtaking performances in the singles, pair, and ice dance categories.  

Single session tickets for 2023 Skate Canada International are currently available for purchase via Ticketmaster, with prices starting at $45 plus taxes and fees.

For more information about the event, click here. 

Legendary Figure Skaters Joannie Rochette and Patrick Chan Named Event Ambassadors For the 2024 ISU World Figure Skating Championships

MONTREAL, QC (May 25, 2023) – The road to the top is never easy. It takes time, dedication, grit and a lot of hard work. To win a medal on the world stage is one of the peak accomplishments in any athlete’s career, but to become a legend is a category onto itself. As figure skating fans descend on Montreal, Quebec next March for the 2024 ISU World Figure Skating Championships ®, they will be welcomed by two of Canada’s finest: Olympians Joannie Rochette and Patrick Chan. The event is scheduled to take place at the Centre Bell from March 18-24, 2024. 

Rochette is best known for her heart wrenching battle to bronze at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, where she decided to compete mere days after the passing of her mother. Rochette was also crowned national champion six times and competed at seven world championships, winning a silver medal in 2009. The l’Île-Dupas native also won three ISU Four Continent medals and 10 medals on the ISU Grand Prix circuit.  

Chan is the most decorated male figure skater in Canadian history, holding 10 national titles, three Olympic medals and three world titles. Between them they share 16 national titles and have served as idols and role models to young Canadian figure skaters from coast to coast to coast.  

“I am thrilled to see the championships returning to Montréal following the cancellation in 2020. It is exciting to be able to finally step fully into my role as event ambassador and welcome the world to Montreal,” shared Rochette. “Montrealers are known to be welcoming and open to the world and I am honoured to represent Skate Canada and all the athletes participating at this incredible event.”  

In their role, Rochette and Chan will interact and engage with fans, conduct interviews with the media and be available for speaking engagements. The event ambassadors help share the athlete experience with media and fans so that the competing athletes can focus on the task at hand. 

When reflecting on his own experience, Chan shared how competing on his home soil served as a difference maker that catapulted him to the top of the podium.  

“One of my fondest memories in figure skating was when I competed at the 2013 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in London, Ontario. Having the support of a home crowd energized me to be the best I could be and ultimately achieve a gold medal.” 

This will be the first time the championships have been hosted in Montreal since 1932. They were previously scheduled in 2020, which would have been their first return since, but were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

“We are honoured to have Patrick and Joannie return as our event ambassadors. Skate Canada is thrilled to finally be able to implement our plans and bring the world championships to Montreal,” said Debra Armstrong, Skate Canada’s Chief Executive Officer. “Over their careers, Joannie and Patrick have both taken part and won medals at every major skating event and know first-hand the pressures of competition and we know they will help make an unforgettable event for all participants.” 

All-event tickets for the 2024 ISU World Figure Skating Championships® will be on sale in mid-June.
For up-to-date ticket information, please sign up to our Worlds 2024 fan list at montreal2024.com. 

ABOUT THE ISU WORLD FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS 

The ISU World Figure Skating Championships® is an annual event that moves around the globe, showcasing the 200 best athletes from 50 countries across four disciplines: men, women, pair and ice dance. An event of this magnitude could not take place without the contribution of the Government of Canada, the Government of Quebec, the City of Montreal and Tourism Montreal. 

Skating Legend Patrick Chan Retires from Competitive Competition

TORONTO, ON: Olympic Champion Patrick Chan, 27, Toronto, Ont., announced his retirement from competitive skating today. Chan is the most decorated male figure skater in Canadian history with three Olympic medals, three world championship crowns and 10 Canadian titles.

“It has been an honour and a privilege to skate for Canada”, said Patrick Chan. “It has given me memorable experiences and has taught me lessons I will carry throughout life. I have fulfilled my dreams and aspirations in competitive skating and it is now time to move on to new challenges and opportunities. I hope to have inspired many young skaters that with hard work, perseverance and dedication anything is possible.”

Chan won his first Canadian title in 2008 and would go on to win nine more, establishing a Canadian men’s record with 10 in total. Over the course of his decorated career Chan would compete at three Olympic Games, winning silver in Sochi in both his individual and team event, capping off his career with a gold medal in the team event at the 2018 Games in PyeongChang.

“It has truly been an honour to have Patrick on our team and he will be greatly missed by the entire skating community. His beautiful lyrical skating matched with his outgoing and positive personality has made him a champion on and off the ice,” said Debra Armstrong, CEO, Skate Canada. “Patrick has left a tremendous mark on Canadian skating and we thank him for inspiring Canadians to embrace the joy of skating. Skate Canada would like to congratulate Patrick on a fabulous career and we wish him the best of luck with his future endeavors.”

During his senior career, Chan won five medals at the ISU World Championships, winning the title three times (2011, 2012, 2013). He picked up 15 medals on the ISU Grand Prix circuit and would go on to earn four medals at the ISU Grand Prix Final, winning gold twice (2011, 2012). He would also claim top spot at the ISU Four Continents Championships three times (2009, 2012, 2016).

“Patrick’s impact on the sport has been instrumental to the continued success of figure skating in Canada. His strong technical ability combined with his effortless skating made him one of the best the world has ever seen and has brought endless memories to skating fans worldwide,” said Mike Slipchuk, High Performance Director, Skate Canada. “Patrick’s achievements are a testament to his hard work, dedication, and humble personality, which enabled him to reach the highest accomplishments at the world and Olympic level. We wish Patrick every success in his new chapter and thank him for having us along for this incredible ride.”

For his work on the ice, Chan was awarded the prestigious Lou Marsh Award as Canada’s top athlete in 2011, as well as Sportsnet’s Canadian Athlete of the Year, QMI Agency Canadian Male Athlete of the Year and the Canadian Press’s Lionel Conacher Award for Canadian male athlete of the year.

Chan is currently residing in Vancouver, B.C., where he plans to stay involved in the skating community through seminars and performing in skating shows across Canada.

Patrick Chan finishes ninth in Olympic finale

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea – It was the end of one era of Canadian skating and maybe, just maybe, the start of another.

Patrick Chan’s storybook career, punctuated with three consecutive world championships and a record ten Canadian titles, likely saw the final chapter written Saturday in PyeongChang with a ninth- place showing at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games.

When the dust had cleared on the quad-filled air show that was the men’s free program, Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu, who held off Chan for gold four years ago in Sochi, successfully defended his Olympic crown with 317.85 points. Hanyu’s countryman Shoma Uno finished 11 points back to win silver while Spain’s Javier Fernandez earned bronze.

Keegan Messing, making his Olympic debut just weeks after finishing second to Chan at the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships, was 12th.

American quad king Nathan Chen, who was lodged in 17th spot after a disastrous short program, nearly stole the show in the free, scoring 215.08 to vault into fifth with a 297.35 total.

After dominating the sport for most of his career, Chan, who went into the free skate 21 points behind Hanyu and 14 points off the podium, seemed at peace with himself heading into this season, and these Olympics. He has maintained all season that this final year was about enjoying this swan song, this moment, and not the medals and results.

“We’re seeing the transition now, the scale has tipped,” said Chan of the passing of the torch in men’s figure skating. “I’m so proud I was able to stick in it this long.

“I’m happy that I can leave these Games with a gold medal in the team event. Now I’m looking for gold medals in other things in my life.”

Last weekend, Chan earned his first Olympic gold as a member of Canada’s winning squad in the team event, bringing his career Olympic medal haul to a gold and two silvers.

There’s not much left for him to prove.

“Everything was very positive,” he said of the feeling going into the free program.

“I felt light. I had a little skip in my step. I wanted to be here, I wanted to step on that ice and do my long program. There was just a sense of excitement. Maybe that was knowing this is it.”

For Messing, who realized a lifelong dream of his own by making it to the Olympics, these Games were more of a learning experience.

“I am very pleased with my performance,” said Messing. “I was so excited to go out there and do what I’ve been training to do. I put down a solid performance, and I can leave the Olympics happy.”

Messing described his Olympic experience in a word.

“Wow,” he said.

As he was getting set to leave the interview area for the last time, Chan was asked what he thinks his legacy on the sport will be.

“I hope one day people will look back at my skating and what I’ve brought to the table and be like ‘Remember when Patrick skated like this or remember when skating was like this,” he said.

“That would be a cool legacy to leave behind.”

The ice dance competition now takes centre stage, with the short dance Sunday night at 8:00 pm ET. Canada will have three entries in the event, led by 2010 Olympic gold medallists and reigning world champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir.

PyeongChang 2018 Figure Skating Schedule & Results

Olympic Spotlight : Patrick Chan

With two Olympic silver medals from the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games in his trophy case, the three-time world champion looks to cap off a brilliant career in PyeongChang.

Chan capped off an emotional free program at the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships earlier this month, bringing the crowd to its feet as he clinched his record tenth Canadian senior men’s title, breaking Montgomery Wilson’s mark that had stood since 1939.

Chan has been nothing short of dominant throughout most of his career. After capturing silver at the world championships in 2009 and 2010, the Toronto native would claim world titles in 2011, 2012 and 2013. He became the first skater to win three straight men’s world championships since Alexei Yagudin did it from 1998 to 2000, and the first Canadian to win three straight since Kurt Browning (1989-91).

In 2010-11, the season he won his first world title, Chan set world records and also claimed the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canadian Athlete of the Year and the Lionel Conacher Award as Canadian Male Athlete of the Year.

Following his performance at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, Chan took a year off before returning to competition.

In PyeongChang, he is hoping that comeback comes full circle with another Olympic medal.

Patrick Chan withdraws from NHK Trophy

OTTAWA, ON: Three-time World Champion Patrick Chan, 26, Toronto, Ont., has withdrawn from the NHK Trophy, the fourth stop on the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. Chan finished fourth at Skate Canada International last week and has decided to focus on his training leading into the national championships in January.

Chan is a nine-time Canadian Champion and two-time Olympic silver medalist, winning silver in the men’s and team event at the 2014 Olympic Games.

Weaver and Poje win free dance to move Canada into fourth at ISU World Team Trophy

TOKYO – Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje of Waterloo, Ont., won the free dance on Friday to move Canada from fifth to fourth in the country standings at the ISU World Team Trophy figure skating competition.

Japan gained sole position of top spot with two events remaining with 81 points followed by the U.S., at 78, Russia with 74 and Canada with 67. China is fifth at 59 and France sixth at 46.

In the free dance, Weaver and Poje earned a 113.83 score  with Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the U.S. second at 109.96 and Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev of Russia third at 104.55.

First place in each event is worth 12 points for the country, second 11 points, third 10 and so on. Canada won the silver in the team event at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

In the men’s free skate, Japan was 1-2 with Yuzuru Hanyu earning 200.49 and Shoma Uno 198.49. Patrick Chan of Toronto was third at 190.74 and Kevin Reynolds of Coquitlam, B.C. ninth.

The pairs program was won by Vanessa James and Morgan Cipres of France. Cheng Peng and Yang Jin of China were second and Kirsten Moore-Towers of St. Catharines, Ont., and Michael Marinaro of Sarnia, Ont., third.

Competition ends Saturday with the free skates in women’s and pairs competition.

Full results: ISU World Team Trophy 2017.

Virtue and Moir on top of the world

HELSINKI – Canada’s Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir are back on top in ice dancing. The two-time Olympic medallists won the gold medal Saturday to conclude the ISU World Figure Skating Championships and complete a perfect comeback season.

The contest was close with Virtue and Moir holding on to first despite a slip by Moir as they totalled 198.62 points. It is their third world title.

Defending champions Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron of France won the free dance to finish at 196.04 while Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani of the U.S. were third at 185.18.

‘’We accomplished a lot of great things in this program technically that allowed us to stay on top against a really, really good French team,’’ said Moir from Ilderton, Ont. ‘’We knew we were going to be in a fight for the world title.’’

The victory caps a great comeback season for the 2010 Olympic champions. They sat out their first two seasons after the Olympic silver in Sochi. In 2016-17, they went undefeated in seven competitions producing several record scores including a world mark in Friday’s short dance.

‘’We wanted to win worlds,’’ said Moir. ‘’We trained well, we felt we prepared ideally for this whole season.’’

Two-time world championship medallists Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje of Waterloo, Ont., emerged a half-point from the podium finishing fourth at 184.81 after standing sixth after the short dance.

’We wanted to bring the happiness back into our skating and express who we are,’’ said Poje. ‘’We went through some ups and downs this season and had to rediscover ourselves.  We are very proud where we are and we know we can build so much more.’’

Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Toronto moved from ninth to eighth overall.

‘’We really allowed ourselves to settle into that performance,’’ said Poirier. ‘’We didn’t force anything or rush anything. We allowed ourselves to do the work and just get lost in the moment.’’

In men’s competition, Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan re-claimed the world crown roaring from fifth place to the gold medal position with a world record free skate for 321.59 points. His compatriot Shoma Uno was second at 319.31 and Boyang Jin of China third at 303.58.

Patrick Chan of Toronto skated to music by teammate and pairs skater Eric Radford and earned 295.16 for fifth place. He landed his three quad jumps but put a hand down on his quad Salchow and stumbled after completing his second quad toe.

‘’The approach I had for this competition was the right one,’’ said Chan, a three-time world champion. ‘’My goal was to rotate all three quads today which I had never done before. It’s great to know that I have the confidence now to do it.’’

Kevin Reynolds of Coquitlam, B.C., made an impressive move in the standings from 12th to ninth overall with the eighth best free skate. His first four jumps were all quads including the first two in combination.

‘’It was exhilaration,’’ said Reynolds. ‘’At the most important competition of the season I had a job to do and left here with possibly the two best performances of my career. It was a thrill; everything I worked for in training went exactly right.’’

Canada ends the competition with three medals. On Friday, Kaetlyn Osmond of Marystown, N.L. and Gabrielle Daleman of Newmarket, Ont., took silver and bronze in women’s competition. It was the first time Canada produced two medallists in the event at worlds.

Full results: http://www.isuresults.com/results/season1617/wc2017/index.htm

Chan produces solid third in short program/ Ilyushechkina and Moscovitch a career best sixth at worlds

HELSINKI – Patrick Chan scored a personal best to stand third after the short program in men’s competition while Lubov Ilyushechkina and Dylan Moscovitch were a career-best sixth in pairs.

In the men’s short, two-time defending champion Javier Fernandez of Spain stands first after the short program with 109.05 points. Shoma Uno of Japan is second at 104.86 and Chan posted a personal best 102.13 – the first time he has cracked the 100-point barrier internationally.

Chan, a three-time world champion from Toronto, opened with a quad toe loop- triple toe loop combo and also cleanly executed his triple Axel and triple Lutz.

‘’Breaking 100 points with one quad is huge for me,’’ said Chan. ‘’I didn’t go into it thinking I needed to be first. I just wanted to get the marks I deserved if I put everything on the table.’’

Kevin Reynolds of Coquitlam, B.C., is 12th after producing a clean skate. He opened with a quad Salchow- triple toe combo and followed that up with a quad toe and triple Axel.

‘’I was able to refocus after a not so great warm-up,’’ said Reynolds, who had a 4:20 a.m.  wake-up call for a 6 a.m. practice being in the first group of skaters.  ‘’I trusted my training and turned things around.

‘’I couldn’t be happier with my performance today.’’

In pairs, there was no change in the top-three: Wenjing Sui and Cong Han of China took gold, Aliona Savchenko and Bruno Massot of Germany the silver and Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov of Russia the bronze.

Ilyushechkina and Moscovitch remained in sixth spot with a personal best 206.19 points. They were seventh at last year’s worlds and 13th the year before.

‘’We worked hard through that program and the training paid off,’’ said Moscovitch.

‘’We did an amazing job on regrouping and refocusing for this program,’’ added Ilyushechkina. ‘’We were there in moment and worked hard from the beginning until the end.’’

Two-time defending world champions Meagan Duhamel of Lively, Ont., and Eric Radford of Balmertown, Ont., stayed in seventh spot. Radford has been dealing with a hip injury this month.

‘’After the practice this morning I never felt so afraid and unsure,’’ said Radford. ‘’It was very difficult. I was thinking of withdrawing but our team around us gave us the confidence to go out there and try.

‘’Our effort was beyond what we could have expected.’’

Julianne Séguin of Longueuil, Que., and Charlie Bilodeau of Trois-Pistoles, Que., were 11th. Séguin has been dealing with a concussion in the new calendar year.

‘’We felt relief,’’ said Séguin. ‘’We had a really hard year but to finish on a strong note with our program was what we needed.’’

Competition continues Friday with the women’s free skate and the short dance. The men’s free skate is on Saturday.

Full results: http://www.isuresults.com/results/season1617/wc2017/index.htm

Patrick Chan fourth as Canada ends ISU Four Continents with four medals

GANGNEUNG, South Korea – Three-time world champion Patrick Chan of Toronto took fourth spot in the men’s event on Sunday to conclude the ISU Four Continents figure skating competition.

Nathan Chen of the U.S. won the gold medal with 307.46 points, Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan was second at 303.71 and his compatriot Shoma Uno was third at 288.05. Chan, fifth after the short program, followed at 267.98.

‘’I need to work on my snap off the ice and being more efficient,’’ said Chan, who opened with successful quad toe-triple and triple Axel but struggled the rest of the way.  ‘’I’m looking forward to going back home and working on that. Those are also things that I can work on both on and off the ice.’’

Nam Nguyen of Toronto produced a strong free skate to jump from 13th after the short to eighth overall for a season’s best 237.08. His program included three quads. He fell on the first one but the rest of the skate was clean.

‘’My free program went really well,’’ said Nguyen. ‘’Especially since my practices leading up were not as successful. It’s great to go out there and show everyone I can put out my technical content and push my component elements.”

Kevin Reynolds of Coquitlam, B.C., remained in 12th place. He produced a strong second half after a difficult first couple of minutes.

‘’It was a tough opening to recover from,’’ said Reynolds. ‘’With each mistake you lose your energy and focus. But I thought I did as well as I could in the second half considering it was a disappointing performance.’’

Canada, which featured its team for next month’s world championships in Helsinki, ends the competition with four medals.

Tessa Virtue of London, Ont., and Scott Moir of Ilderton, Ont., took gold in ice dancing; Meagan Duhamel of Lively, Ont., and Eric Radford of Balmertown, Ont., and Lubov Ilyushechkina and Dylan Moscovitch of Toronto won silver and bronze in pairs and Gabrielle Daleman of Newmarket, Ont., added a silver in women’s competition.

The competition was held at the venue for next year’s Olympic Winter Games.

Full results: ISU Four Continents Championships 2017

Virtue and Moir add Grand Prix Final champions to their laurels

MARSEILLES, France – Canadian Olympic and world champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir ended their Grand Prix Final gold medal drought on Saturday with the victory in ice dancing at the ISU Grand Prix Final figure skating competition.

It was the Canadian couples sixth appearance at the event and the first time they’ve earned gold. They’ve been runner-up four times.

Virtue and Moir, skating to emotional music by Coeur de Pirate and Sam Smith, totalled 197.22 points. World champions Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron of France were second at 192.81 and Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani third at 189.60.

‘’For us a Grand Prix title is pretty huge,’’ said Moir from Ilderton, Ont. ‘’It’s a great finish to the first half of the season and we are really pleased with the work we’ve done so far.’’

While the performance appeared flawless, Moir admitted there is still some polish to add.

‘’We are excited because when you’re off a little bit and have the training we have we are still able to come through with a good performance and get the marks that we did,’’ he said.

In women’s competition, Kaetlyn Osmond of Marystown, N.L., making her Grand Prix Final debut, produced a clean program but still dropped from second to fourth overall with a personal best 212.45 points. She was less than six points from the silver medal position.

World champion Evgenia Medvedeva of Russia took the gold with 227.66, Satoko Miyahara of Japan was second at 218.33 and Anna Pogorilaya of Russia third at 216.47.

‘’Obviously I’m really happy with the free program,’’ said Osmond. ‘’The few mistakes that I did were really silly ones for me and wish I could take them back. Still there’s a lot for me to be proud of in that skate.’’

On the men’s side it was a day to forget for Toronto’s Patrick Chan as he fell three times and placed fifth. Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan won the gold, Nathan Chen of the U.S. was second and Shoma Uno of Japan third.

Full results: 2016-2017 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final

Chan and Duhamel/Radford in medal hunt at ISU Grand Prix Final

MARSEILLES, France –  Canadians Patrick Chan and pairs skaters Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford are in position to chase a gold medal after Thursday’s short programs at the ISU Grand Prix Final figure skating competition.

In the men’s short, Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan holds the lead with 106.53 points followed by Chan with a personal best 99.76 and world champion Javier Fernandez of Spain third at 91.76.

‘’It’s the best I’ve skated this season in competition,’’ said Chan, a three-time world champion, who executed a clean skate featuring a quad-triple combo and triple Axel. ‘’It’s a good feeling to have again and super to do that against all the top men here. I feel I’m progressing through the season properly.’’

In pairs, Evegenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov of Russia are in first place with 78.60. Xiaoyu Yu and Hao Zhang of China are second at 75.34 while Duhamel and Radford are third at 71.44.

The Canadian two-time world champs had a fall on their throw and Duhamel touched her hand down on the side-by-side jumps.

‘’The throw Axel has been right there in practice,’’ said Radford. ‘’It’s just unfortunate that it went very haywire in the program. We haven’t done one like that in awhile.’’

‘’It’s actually our most consistent throw,’’ added Duhamel. ‘’We land it way more than the other throws in practice. So we are a bit shell-shocked and disappointed. In the end we need to do clean short programs.’’

Julianne Séguin of Longueuil, Que., and Charlie Bilodeau of Trois-Pistoles, Que., are sixth at 60.86.

‘’Even though we missed some technical elements we really enjoyed the program,’’ said Séguin. ‘’We really have to trust ourselves for the free program and I think we will do well.’’

The pairs free skate is on Friday along with the women’s short program and short dance. The men’s free skate is on Saturday.

Full results: ISU Grand Prix Final