THUNDER BAY -- Once an idol to young figure skaters across the country, Josée Chouinard now finds her biggest fans aren’t the athletes she works with on the ice.
It’s their parents who get star-struck.
Chouinard, a two-time Olympian, was in the city on Sunday to work with young Northwestern Ontario skaters at the Tournament Centre.
“It’s great for me because they see me for what I’m doing now as a coach,” she said. “It’s not a bad thing. I’m enjoying it and I love working with the kids.”
Chouinard, 45, was one of the country’s most famous figure skaters after capturing three Canadian national championships in 1991, 1993 and 1994. She also competed at both the 1992 and 1994 Olympic Winter Games. Now retired, she works as a coach at the Granite Club in Toronto.
More than 65 skaters, ranging in age from seven to 17, from across Northwestern Ontario were on the ice to work with her and former skater and acclaimed choreographer Chris Bourne.
“I’m coming in to help them find new tricks and to motivate them,” she said. “I say that if a skater takes one thing from today it’s worth it. The coaches will probably go back and try some of the things I’ll say.”
Shelley Frost, who works with local skater development for Skate Canada, said the opportunity to work with such a recognized figure is a valuable opportunity that doesn’t come along often.
“A lot of the kids in this area don’t get a lot of chances to skate or get any lessons from top notch coaches and for them to be available to us is phenomenal,” Frost said.
The seminar comes at the conclusion of the regional skating championships, which were held throughout the weekend.
Many of the athletes from across the region stayed the extra day just for the opportunity.
“This is a great stress release and a lot of fun. It’s a great way to end the weekend,” Frost said.
If anything, Chouinard hopes the athletes realize the athletes they see competing at the Olympics are real people who put in time and effort to achieve their dreams.
She didn’t think her career would take her as far as it did.
“I never thought I would be in the Olympics but if you don’t set any limits for yourself and start wherever you want to start who knows where it can bring you,” Chouinard said.
