Chan still learning to be champion

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By Scott Russell Posted: Thursday, December 8, 2011 | 07:32 PM

World men's figure skating champion Patrick Chan caused a stir at the ISU Grand Prix Final this week for comments he made about feeling unappreciated in Canada.

It's strange in sport that sometimes words speak louder than actions.

It's supposed to be the other way around.

So it is that the unfortunate comments made by world champion Patrick Chan to Reuters in a September interview have resonated in Quebec City where the greatest figure skaters on the planet have gathered for the ISU Grand Prix Final.

On day one of competition Chan's ruminations surfaced to overshadow anything that was taking place on the ice. All of the great jumps, twirls and spins done at incredibly high speeds were absorbed while spectators whispered of Chan's seemingly disloyal discourse on the lack of appreciation he feels from the folks at home.

In a perverse sort of way the dredging up of this very old news brought a fresh focus to the fascination that Canadians have with their figure skating champions. Now, at the very least, many more fans of sport in this hockey-crazed country know that the figure skating championships are taking place at all.