Short track skaters ready for action

Australian short track speed skaters Tatiana Borodulina and Lachlan Hay have this morning completed a smooth training session at the Kilarney Centre.

With the figure skaters taking centre stage for practice at the Pacific Coliseum, the venue that will host both figure skating and short track speed skating, Borodulina and Hay were shifted to the official training venue, 30 minutes drive south of the Coliseum.

Originally the Australian skaters had been scheduled to train at 9pm Canadian time, but due to the clash with the Australian Team Reception, the Japanese squad allowed the two Australians to train alongside them.

Under the watchful eye of head coach Ann Zhang, Borodulina and Hay skated with confidence and rhythm as they each prepared for their second Olympic Games, Borodulina’s first for Australia.

There was a relaxed atmosphere around the smaller Kilarney Centre and laughter and jokes were being shared by all athletes who took to the ice. The Russian team session also crossed over with the Australian and Japanese and Borodulina even managed to share a light hearted game of scissors, paper, rock with her former teammates.

Borodulina will open her schedule in the heats of the women’s 500m on Day 2 (Saturday 13 February) in which she is ranked three in the world, before contesting the 1000m and 1500m later in the two week program.

Hay begins his Olympic campaign on Day 6 (Wednesday 17 February) in the 1000m, after making his Olympic debut in Torino in the 5000m relay, where the team gained a sixth place finish.

David Polglase
AOC - Vancouver

Article courtesy of www.olympics.com.au