Nerves and patience –not normally the two words one links with short track speed skating but that’s exactly what national coach Ann Zhang believes will be the determining factor at the Winter Games in Vancouver.

Whilst Zhang says different skills are required to be victorious over the three distances (500, 1000 and 1500 metres), keeping your emotions in check and maintaining composure are vital.

“There are lots of examples of mistakes in big finals so I tell all my athletes – ‘be patient’, but I suppose it’s hard when you are at the Olympics,” Zhang admits.

And Zhang can speak with some authority on the concept of patience – having been around for one of the great moments in Australian sporting history – Steve Bradbury’s gold in Salt Lake City in 2002.

“A lot of our preparation got lost in the celebrations of Steven’s win, but I actually thought something like what happened could happen,” Zhang said.

“You had so many skaters thinking that it was ‘gold or nothing’ and they took some risks which in the end caused a mistake. Steven set out to be patient and to be there at the finish – and he won a gold medal,” Zhang recalls.

She believes the Australian team has the ability to win more medals on the ice in Vancouver, but knows how tough it is going to be.

That’s why training – both physical and mental has been so intense in the countdown to Vancouver.

Zhang’s leading charge Tatiana Borodulina left for Calgary in December to begin her final phase of preparation. After doing the hardest part of his training at home in Brisbane, teammate Lachlan Hay followed.

The two are now in a training camp in Calgary with Zhang, where they will remain until the beginning of the Games.

“They’re doing 10-12 sessions a week,” Zhang said from Canada. “Everything is going smoothly, they are both relaxed and enjoying the training.”

“It’s all about quality at this stage of a preparation before a major competition, about feeling comfortable on the ice and feeling comfortable off it,” Zhang said.

Working together is an important part of the Australian team ethos and something that Zhang says is not always evident with other countries at major competitions.

“You can notice that the Australian team sticks together in the Village whereas some of the other skaters are often alone and don’t mix that well.

“It is an individual sport but I think Australians know the importance of being part of a team as well,” Zhang said.

Zhang has no problems in articulating exactly what her goals and expectations are for the skating team come February.

“We want a medal.”

Although that is easier said than done, and is in fact the goal of all teams heading to Vancouver, Zhang says Australia should not be any different.

“Lachlan has a good chance of reaching the top 16 and from then on in anything can happen, and I believe Tatiana has a good chance of making the final of the 3 events she’ll be in,” Zhang said.

Damian Kelly
AOC