Team GB Reveals Figure Skating Line-up for Vancouver
30 Nov 2009
Team GB has qualified seven figure skaters in three disciplines for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. British competitors will take part in the dance, pairs and ladies singles events.
This is a significant improvement from 2006, when only two figures skaters - John and Sinead Kerr – qualified to represent Team GB.
Our Vancouver Olympians in figure skating will be:
Ice Dance: John Kerr and Sinead Kerr
Nick Buckland andPenny Coomes
Pairs: David King and Stacey Kemp
Singles: Jenna McCorkell
Commenting on the selection:
John Kerr: “It’s a wonderful feeling to be selected for the team. We learned an enormous amount about competing for Team GB when we were at the Olympic Winter Games in Turin, and of course we’re looking forward to repeating that in Vancouver. It was a fantastic experience to finish in the top 10, but we’re aiming to go even higher in 2010.”
Jenna McCorkell: “I’ve been fortunate enough to have won the British title seven times, but the Olympic Winter Games is the pinnacle of our event. I’m thrilled to have been selected for Team GB.”
David King: “It’s hard to express just how much this means. It’s the fulfilment of a lifetime’s ambition. When I was a little kid, people would watch me compete then say as a joke ‘I’ll look out for you at the Olympics’. Well now that’s come true! It always seemed like some massive, daunting ambition, so now it really does feel incredible to have achieved it.”
Penny Coomes: “This is the first year that we’ve steered clear of injury and had the opportunity to do a full season of competition. We always thought that taking part in the Olympic Winter Games was such a long-shot, but of course it was a massive ambition for both of us. We have long-term hopes in the sport, but to have been selected for the Olympic Winter Games at this stage does feel absolutely amazing.”
Andy Hunt, Team GB Chef de Mission, said: “This is the first team announcement we have made ahead of the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, and my congratulations go out to all those selected. As a nation, we have a fantastic pedigree in figure skating, and I know it’s a sport that’s close to the hearts of many people across the UK.
“I’m particularly pleased to see how our figure skating team has grown from two athletes in 2006 to seven this time around – and I’d emphasise that all of them have had to meet the tough qualifying standards that we established. I’m completely confident that the athletes we’ve selected will do a great job for Team GB and strike to achieve their personal best for Team GB.”
Note to Editors:
The seven sports on the Olympic programme for 2010 are: biathlon, bobsleigh, curling, ice hockey, luge, skating and skiing. The 15 disciplines are: biathlon, bobsleigh, skeleton, curling, ice hockey, luge, figure skating, short track speed skating, speed skating, Alpine skiing, cross country skiing, freestyle skiing, Nordic combined, ski jumping, snowboard.
For the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter games Team GB is likely to consist of approximately 50 athletes across six sports (biathlon, bobsleigh, curling, luge, skating and skiing) and 11 disciplines (biathlon, bobsleigh, skeleton, curling, luge, figure skating, short track speed skating, alpine skiing, cross country skiing, freestyle skiing, snowboard). Currently Team GB has qualified 25 quota places in 4 sport disciplines.
The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games take place from 12-28 February in Vancouver and Whistler in Canada. Today, there are 74 days until the Opening Ceremony.
Team GB team announcements for Vancouver will take place during December 2009 and January 2010.
The British Olympic Association (BOA) is the National Olympic Committee for Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Its role is to prepare our nation’s finest athletes for and lead them at the summer, winter and youth Olympic Games. The BOA delivers extensive elite level support services to Britain’s Olympic athletes and their National Governing Bodies throughout each Olympic cycle and, in the UK, is responsible for the development and protection of the Olympic Movement.
For more information, or for interview requests, please contact Adam Parsons in the BOA Communications Team on 020 7842 5700, extension 722