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Canada Month continues on the blog with the second of many, many wonderful interviews coming to you fast and furious all month. Winning the Canadian junior title in 2012, Gabby Daleman's rise to the top of Canadian ladies figure skating has been fast and fearless. The last two seasons, she has finished second on the senior ladies podium at the Canadian Championships and this season earned the right to represent Canada at both the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia and 2014 World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama, Japan. She placed in the top twenty in both events and proved that she is indeed a force to be reckoned with. The young rising star from Newmarket, Ontario took the time to talk about the Olympics, her goals for next season and much more in this short but sweet interview. Big thanks to Danielle Earl for the wonderful photographs!:
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A: Really, every competition has a special memory for me but standing in the middle of the ice on the Olympic rings was magical. I was so proud to be Canadian.
Q: You train in Richmond Hill, Ontario with coaches Andrei Berezintsev, Inga Zusev and your father Michael and work with choreographer Lori Nichol. What makes your training team work so well?
A: They all talk to each other and work as a team. It is great they all gel really well.
Q: I have to ask! I saw a picture of the dress you wore at the reception after Worlds in Saitama. It was gorgeous! Where did you get it?
A: I got it at Laura's but we had to get six inches taken off the bottom... even in heels!
Q: Your goal for the 2014 World Championships was top fifteen and you placed thirteenth with two great skates. What are your goals for next season and what are you focusing on now in training? Have you given thought to programs for next season yet?
A: My goals are to win Nationals, place in the top five at two Grand Prix events and in the top six at Worlds. New programs are in the works!
Q: What do you see as your biggest strengths and weaknesses as a skater and how are you working hard to improve any weaknesses?
A: My strengths for sure are my jumps and I'm working with Lori (my choreographer) to improve my fluidity and second mark.
Q: Sometimes you just have to pick favourites. What is your favourite book, song and movie?
A: "Gossip Girl", "Happy", and "Burlesque"!
Q: What's one thing most people don't know about you?
A: I love to do triple jump as my second sport. That was my dad's sport!
Q: Who are your three favourite skaters of all time and why?
A: Joannie Rochette, Carolina Kostner and Scott and Tessa. They have passion for their sport. Joannie Rochette didn't like being off for more than two days or she'd get restless. I get that! Me too!
Q: What do you love most about figure skating?
A: Everything!
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