Posts

World and Olympic champion Eric Radford vying for spot on ISU Athletes’ Commission

/0 Comments/in /by

OTTAWA, ON – Eric Radford may have retired from competitive figure skating last year, but the two-time world champion and three-time Olympic medallist wants to remain an integral part of the sport he is so passionate about.

Radford, who is also a seven-time Canadian pair champion, will bid for a spot on the International Skating Union’s Athletes’ Commission when secret-ballot voting takes place at the 2019 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama, Japan from March 18-24.

The Commission is made up of five athletes – one each from singles/pair, ice dance, synchronized skating, short track and long track speedskating disciplines.

“I’m excited and honoured to be running for the ISU athlete representative position as the sport of figure skating is close to my heart and the Olympic ice is fresh in my memory,” says Radford, who enjoyed paramount success in pair skating but also skated singles early in his career.

“Our sport is in a constant state of evolution and my goal is to ensure the athlete’s voices will be heard as new directions are taken. I dedicated so many years to achieving the highest possible level in this amazing sport and I’d be honoured if given the opportunity to apply my focus to this position.”

Radford and partner Meagan Duhamel formed one of the most successful teams in Canadian pair skating history. In addition to back-to-back world titles in 2015 and 2016, Duhamel and Radford won seven consecutive Canadian pair championships between 2012 and 2018. They were also two-time Four Continents champions (2015, 2013) and the 2014-15 ISU Grand Prix Final champions. At the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games in 2018, Duhamel and Radford put the finishing touches on an outstanding career by helping Canada to a gold medal in the team event and adding bronze in the pairs event.

“We are honoured to endorse Eric’s bid for a seat on the ISU’s Athletes’ Commission,” says Debra Armstrong, Skate Canada’s Chief Executive Officer. “During his career, Eric was a national, world and Olympic champion, and is an outstanding ambassador for figure skating, both in Canada and around the world. We have no doubt Eric will excel in this role if he is elected and will do an outstanding job promoting our athletes and our sport.”

“Having competed internationally in both singles and pairs I know I have the insight and experience to give the athletes a strong voice within the ISU,” adds Radford. “I believe I have the experience to add so much to the sport, and I would be honoured to be a voice for these outstanding athletes. I look forward to getting to the table right away if I am elected.”

Canadian athlete Paul Poirier looks to secure seat on ISU Athletes’ Commission

/0 Comments/in /by

Next week will mark a competition of a different sort for Canadian ice dance star Paul Poirier.

Poirier, the charismatic five-time Canadian medallist with partner Piper Gilles, is looking to land a spot on the ISU Athletes’ Commission when secret-ballot voting takes place at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Helsinki.

Announced last fall, the Commission will be made up of five athletes – one each from singles/pair, ice dance, synchronized skating, short track and long track speedskating disciplines.

Poirier will be one of the three names on the ice dance ballot.

“This is something I am extremely passionate about,” says Poirier. “I want to promote the dialogue and listen to my fellow athletes around the world to help advance our sport. We need that dialogue to be more open and consistent throughout the year.”

If elected, Poirier says he will have regular conversations with his follow Commission members to discuss issues relating to ice dance, and the sport in general. He will also serve as a liaison between the athletes and the Technical Committee when addressing rules and competition matters.

“I believe we need to do more to leverage our sport,” he adds. “We need to be more engaged with the practitioners – the athletes, the coaches, the choreographers – and allow them to create their best work. Right now, all everyone is doing is trying to maximize points, and it’s why so many programs look the same.”

“We at Skate Canada couldn’t be more honoured to endorse Paul’s bid for a seat on the ISU Athletes’ Commission,” says Debra Armstrong, Skate Canada’s Chief Executive Officer.

“Paul is a world-class athlete and a tremendous ambassador for our sport, here in Canada and around the world.  We have no doubt Paul will excel in this role if he is elected, and will do everything he can to promote our athletes and our sport.”

Their artistic flair and exceptional ability to connect with the audience have made Gilles and Poirier undeniable crowd-pleasers in recent years. In fact, the step-sequence from their 2015-16 short dance will be added to the ISU repertoire as a new compulsory dance after the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

If he is elected to his new position, Poirier wants to get to work right away.

“I want to encourage decision-making that will allow athletes to create their best work,” adds Poirier. “I’ve always tried to be vocal when it comes to the public decisions of the sport. I hope my fellow athletes see I want to be part of that dialogue.

“What do we all want ice dance to be? We need to have those conversations to answer that question.”

“This isn’t about what I think will make the sport better. It’s about what we, as athletes, believe will make the sport better.”