BEIJING (Reuters) – COVID-19 circumstances on the Beijing Olympics have sidelined some determine skaters but additionally rattled wholesome opponents who’ve abruptly discovered themselves with out a coach at an important competitors of their careers.
A day earlier than the opening ceremony, coach Stephane Lambiel from Switzerland mentioned he had examined constructive for the virus regardless of being absolutely vaccinated and was isolating earlier than he might journey to Beijing.
Lambiel, a silver medallist on the 2006 Olympics, was sorely missed by Deniss Vasiljevs at a apply session on Saturday at Beijing’s Capital Indoor Stadium.
“The first few days it was horrible,” the Latvian skater, competing at his second Olympics, informed Reuters. “You by no means realise what you miss till you do not have it.”
The 22-year-old Vasiljevs, who received bronze finally month’s European championships, mentioned he wanted Lambiel to provide him the route and validation required to excel at such an essential occasion.
“Because now we have executed a lot work earlier than, it is extra about having a particular person simply to spice up the arrogance,” Vasiljevs mentioned.
“I’m doing what I’m doing however I simply want somebody to say, ‘sure, good.’ I want a particular person subsequent to the board, exactly him.”
Japan’s Shoma Uno, who can also be coached by Lambiel, scored a private finest within the quick programme of the staff occasion on Friday, ending behind Nathan Chen of the United States.
Despite a sturdy efficiency, Uno mentioned he felt one thing was off with out his coach by his facet. His actions weren’t as sharp, his feelings not as sturdy.
“I felt that with out the presence of a coach, possibly that one further nudge does not come out,” mentioned Uno, considered a medal contender in Beijing after he received silver on the 2018 Games.
“Maybe if (Lambiel) have been right here, there would have been extra emotion within the competitors.”
Even previous to the Games, many skaters who practice overseas have been compelled to return house due to the pandemic, abandoning the each day help and presence of their coaches.
That was the case for Cha Junhwan, a South Korean skater who educated in Toronto below Canadian coach Brian Orser in a group of prime skaters similar to Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu, who will likely be trying to seize a third consecutive Olympic title in Beijing.
“I often practice in Canada however due to the COVID difficulty, I got here again to Korea the place I’ve been coaching for 2 years,” he informed reporters on Saturday.
“This is COVID. It’s so unhappy. But what can I do? Just practice.”
(Additional reporting by Chang-Ran Kim; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
