Wednesday, November 28, 2001
Podivinsky's boxing just one of a number of off-season cross-training experiments
By STEVE BUFFERY -- Toronto Sun
When a downhill skier slips, the result is usually a broken bone, shattered knee or a visit by those delightful little birds that dance around your head.
Edi Podivinsky, Canada's top downhiller, did a lot of slipping this summer but managed to remain in one piece. That's because he did his slipping in the ring -- as in slipping punches.
A year before, a few members of the alpine ski team decided to give boxing a try as a way of staying in shape during the off-season and touched down at Toronto's Atlas Gym. Podivinsky, the 1994 Olympic bronze medallist and six-time World Cup medallist, enjoyed the experience so much, he took it upon himself to do the same this summer in preparation for Salt Lake City. Now he feels ready to kick Austrian butt. If not on the hills, then in the bar afterward.
"I was crawling out of the gym at the end of the day," the Pod said this week from Lake Louise, Alta., where he is doing some forerunning on the women's World Cup track. "The training was fantastic, some of the best I've ever done."
"I'm not surprised to hear that," said pro boxer Steve Molitor, who trains out of the west-end gym. "I've done sports such as hockey and wrestling, but boxing is the best. We get a lot of pro hockey players who come here in the summer to try to get in shape and they can't believe it."
Many athletes get involved in other sports during the off-season. Members of the women's hockey team, for example, did a lot of cycling, basketball, yoga and tae-bo this summer.
Asked if he would consider a career in the sweet science when he retires at the end of this season, Bang Bang Podivinsky replied:"Let's just say I really respect those guys."
SLIPPER TIME
Sign of the times: 1998 Olympic short track speed skating gold medallists Eric Bedard and Annie Perreault bombed out at the Olympic trials last week in Abbotsford, B.C. Bedard will compete in only the relay event in Salt Lake and Perreault will be a substitute.
However, Speed Skating Canada high performance director Robert Bolduc is expecting big things from team veteran Marc Gagnon at the Games.
Gagnon, 27, was the top skater on Canada's 1998 Olympic team but managed only a fourth-place showing in his speciality, the 500, in Nagano.
"In 1998, he felt the pressure that he had to perform," Bolduc told The Toronto Sun. "He had people in his entourage telling him to 'win the gold medal and we'll make you a millionaire. But if you get silver, you'll be a bum and have to work for the rest of your life.' I think he crumbled under that pressure."
SPINNING FOR DOLLARS
The IOC's medical commission is paying Kelly Lockwood, a professor of physical education at Brock University in St. Catharines, an undisclosed amount to research the sport of figure skating and answer this question: "Do the best jumpers win?"
According to a press release: "Lockwood hopes to quantitatively analyse the magnitude and distribution of technical deductions allocated during competitive performances ... "
And I thought skating was about gliding on the ice.
OLYMPIC STUFF
Some suggestions from The Sun sports department for possible attractions at the new Olympic theme park in Toronto.
"Schmoozeville USA."
"Juan Gardens."
"The bearded lady (A former East German swimmer)."
"Bribeland."
"The Sama-ranch petting zoo."
"Juan's House of Horrors. Watch terrified IOC members get bumped down from first to business class."
MORE STUFF
Once in awhile, the COA actually coughs out something good for the athletes.
Such was the case with the announcement of Podium 2002 last summer, which dumped a cool $1.2 million to 93 of Canada's best athletes as they prepare for Salt Lake.
The idea of the project was to give the athletes the ability to acquire special equipment or services leading up to the Games.
Here are some examples of what Canada's best did with their windfall:
Skiers Allison Forsyth and Melanie Turgeon: Access to individual sports psychologists, a wind tunnel, personal stationary spin bikes and additional massage therapy.
The freestyle aerials team: Video equipment and a strength trainer.
Moguls skier Pierre-Alexandre Rousseau: Money for the use of a water ramp during the summer.
Figure skaters: Altitude training.
Sometimes little things like the stuff listed above can make a difference at competition ... Richmond Hill's Emanuel Sandhu has been added to the Sears Figure Skating Open which begins tomorrow at the Ottawa Civic Centre.
2002 Games Alpine Skiing Coverage
