TO SKATE OR NOT TO SKATE: COVID-19 concerns in the air as figure skating nationals kick off in Ottawa

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Three-time Olympic figure skating medalist Eric Radford says COVID-19 is shaping up to be an “invisible minefield” for all athletes heading to the Beijing Games in February.

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Radford and his new partner Vanessa James, both recovering from testing positive for the virus during the Christmas season, are still undecided about whether they will compete in the 2022 Canadian Tire National Championships scheduled to begin this weekend at Ottawa’s TD Place.

James tested positive on December 23 and Radford on December 26 (his symptoms started on December 23), meaning they were unable to come out of isolation to resume training until earlier this week.

Radford, who has won an Olympic gold, silver and bronze medal and two world championships alongside his former partner Meagan Duhamel, says the virus is creating an additional mental hurdle.

“Preparing for any competition, especially the Olympics, is quite difficult,” he said in a conference call Tuesday. “It is one of the most stressful moments in the life of an athlete. But now there is this invisible minefield in front of you for the next several weeks as you try to dodge COVID-19 and not turn positive, while training for one of the most important moments of your life. I think stories of dazzling COVID-19 Olympic dreams are already coming in. “

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He also says, in a weird way, that it’s almost good that both of you have already tested positive.

“It’s weird to say, but it’s almost like a better time than we got now to reduce the likelihood of having a positive test this close (to the Olympics).”

As experienced elite skaters, Radford, 36, and James, 34, hope to be selected to compete for Canada, even if they do not compete in Ottawa.

James, who was born in Canada but previously skated internationally for France, competed in the 2014 and 2018 Olympics and won a bronze medal at the world championships with his former partner Morgan Ciprès.

Before the event, her main competition comes from Kirsten Moore-Towers and Michael Marinaro. That couple has been together for seven years, but they have indicated that it will likely be their last year competing together internationally.

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As has been the case with so many competitions in all sports, the organizers have established many health and safety protocols in an attempt to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Last week, Skate Canada announced that spectators would not be allowed inside the arena. All interviews with the media are conducted virtually.

However, Skate Canada does not require athletes to show proof of a negative test to compete in Ottawa.

Radford says he had minor symptoms, a runny nose and a cough for a few days, and did his best to maintain his physical condition during isolation. He joked that he spent much of his time doing “burpees” in sync with the music the couple sing to.

James says he didn’t have any symptoms. Aside from having a few questions about her fitness levels (she spent her isolation time running around the place, much to the chagrin of the neighbors below her in her apartment complex) she feels good.

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“We have followed all the protocols to keep everyone safe,” he said.

The difficulty, however, is determining whether they have had enough time to adjust their routines.

“It’s not the easiest situation to be in, I have to admit,” he said. “We want to do our best in the nationals, before the Olympics, to have the confidence in ourselves to show that we are the number one team at the Olympics, of course.”

There is some reassurance in having a lifetime skating behind them, but acknowledge some frustration with the situation.

“We have a bit of anxiety to tackle it, but that is a decision that we will have to make ourselves, knowing that we are not fully prepared. (Do we want) to get in and attack this competition the best we can, or do we prepare and build for a potential Olympic journey? “

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The new development is the latest twist for a couple who announced their new partnership last April.

Radford originally retired from competitive skating in 2018, but it was during the 2019 Battle of the Swords taping that he first skated with James.

Duhamel, who had a verbal agreement to skate professional shows with Radford, was initially surprised to learn of the new couple.

“The professional skating career that Eric and I had worked so hard for has now come to an abrupt end, and it breaks my heart and hurts me deeply,” he wrote on Twitter.

James and Ciprès were originally considered favorites for the Beijing medal, but in September 2020 French skating officials announced that the pair would no longer compete together. Ciprès has spent time training in Florida and, in December 2020, the Florida state attorney’s office filed a third-degree felony charge against him following allegations of sexual abuse involving a minor.

While skating together, James and Radford finished fourth in the 2021 Skate Canada International and 2021 Internationaux de France, and fifth in the 2021 Finland Trophy.

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