and Canadians Megan Wing and Aaron Lowe. It was the first time coaches stayed in the ath- letes’ village, and Zoueva found it enlightening in terms of other sports. “You can see what time they wake up, what
they eat, how the athletes warm up,” she said. “It’s interesting. You can get a lot of information from other sports and transfer it to figure skating.” Te 2010 Games in Vancouver, British
Columbia, were a time for firsts, with Tessa Vir- tue and Scott Moir becoming the first North American team to win ice dance gold. While she’s absolutely impartial when it comes to her students, Zoueva is proud that she was able to coach champions from a country, Canada, that welcomed her so warmly. Although she herself was an ice dancer, she’d never coached ice danc- ers before moving to Canada. Now coaching solo, she’s preparing for So-
chi with Virtue and Moir, Americans Meryl Da- vis and Charlie White, and Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani. “It will be great for me if all three teams
can show the best that they have,” Zoueva said. “If my athletes have great moments, memorable performances, I will be happy. Te judges have to decide after that.”
Hopeful expectations —
Dalilah Sappenfield Many people expected Dalilah Sappenfield
at the Games in Vancouver, but it didn’t come to pass. Undaunted, she’s doing her utmost to see her strong teams, Caydee Denney and John Coughlin, and Alexa Scimeca and Chris Knierim, compete in Sochi. In order to give them maxi- mum attention and keep herself
For Marina Zoueva, it’s all about her own improvement and the improvement her skaters show from one competition to the next.
from getting worn out, her assistant, Larry Ibar- ra, is accompanying the junior teams they coach to Junior Grand Prix events. Denney is the only one in the group with
Olympic experience, having competed in Van- couver with Jeremy Barrett. While Coughlin may pick her brain about what to expect at an Olym- pics, Sappenfield is turning to fellow coaches in Colorado Springs, such as Tom Zakrajsek. “He tells me how incredible the compe-
tition is and how many people there are,” Sap- penfield said. “It’s so much more magnified than what we’re used to at Worlds. For the most part,
I try to stay grounded. “I preach to my kids all the time to make
sure that you’re able to roll with the punches and not get distracted,” she added. “I’m not one that gets overwhelmed very easily. I try to kind of nar- row my focus to what we have to do.” Te one indulgence she will probably allow herself after punching a ticket to Sochi is a few new items of rinkside wardrobe. A happy thought, but only a small part of her preparation process. “I couldn’t say it four years ago, but I can
now say I’m ready for the Olympics,” Sappenfield said.
Dalilah Sappenfield hopes this is the season her teams can break through and qualify for the Olympics.
SKATING 39
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