It was a sudden ride to the Olympics, but a long day for ice skater Cheltzie Lee when she qualified in the top 24 skaters to go through to the Free Skate Program on Thursday.
It was a sudden ride to the Olympics, but a long day for ice skater Cheltzie Lee when she qualified in the top 24 skaters to go through to the Free Skate Program on Thursday.
Fifteen year old Lee skated her way through to the next program by scoring a personal best of 52.16.
“I’m thrilled,” she said immediately after her performance. “That’s the best score I’ve ever got in my short program and it was pretty good to do it at the Olympics.”
Skating to crowd pleasing Michael Buble music, Lee immediately beat the score of another four skaters. Not long after, more skated under her score and by the end of competition she was in 18th place and on her way to the next stage of competition.
“I was very excited, I’m now really looking forward to Thursday,” she said.
Not bad for a Year 12 student who only discovered weeks ago she was on her way to the Olympics. A berth appeared in the line up following Israel’s withdrawal of their qualified skater, Tamar Katz.
Team Cheltzie went into immediate action.
“Ever since I found out about it, I’ve been training my butt off,” she said of her sudden preparation, which had to revolve around her school work. “I was doing two 45 minute sessions a day, but they were really intense.”
Lee exceeded the expectations of coach Kylie Fennell, who had originally hoped for a top 20 finish.
“We’ve always known she had it in her, it was a matter of putting it down on the night. We were quietly confident going in,” Fennell said.
Fennell added that she was impressed by Lee’s composure in the Olympic arena as much as her skating.
“Tonight, she even surprised me with the maturity and confidence”, she said.
It had been a long day for Lee, who rose at 4.15am for a 6.30am warm up and a nerve wracking wait for her performance, which she skated at 5.03pm.
The rest of the competition was a mix of emotional moments and rival skaters pushing each other to new limits.
Kim Yu-na of Korea continued her domination, beating second place winner Mao Asada from Japan with a 78.5, enough to lead the competition.
Canadian skater Joannie Rochette received a standing ovation from the crowd. The reigning national champion lost her mother unexpectedly last Sunday, but dazzled the crowd and amongst a flood of tears was awarded a 71.36 to rank in third place
The mother of US skater Mirai Nagasu is suffering from cancer and will begin radiation therapy post Olympics, but was on hand to watch her daughter finish in sixth.
Both progressed to the free skate which will be held on Thursday from 5pm (Vancouver time).
Flip Byrnes
AOC-Vancouver