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Date of Birth: 22/03/72 |
Place of Birth: Newmarket, ON |
Residence: Richmond Hill, ON |
Height: 5'7" |
Weight: 156 lbs |
Years on National Team: 12 |
Elvis Stojko heads to his fourth consecutive Games searching for the one prize that has eluded him so far in his brilliant career: an Olympic gold
medal. He has come close twice. He was runner-up in both 1994 and 1998 despite a painful groin injury. The 2002 Olympics, then the world
championships a few weeks later, are expected to conclude Stojko's status as an amateur skater.
His programs this year are likely to be familiar to most figure skating fans. He will resurrect the martial arts flavored "The Dragon" routine from
1994 -- which he claims to be his best ever -- and the Japanese Kodo Drums short routine from 1998.
Stojko made his first international breakthrough at the 1992 Albertville Olympics where he was one of the few to provide a solid performance but
still placed a controversial seventh. Hovewer that performance made a strong impression and he placed third at the world championships the
following month. He has won three world titles and paved the way for the world's more athletic skaters to receive more respect from the skating
community, in particular the judges.
In 1991, Stojko was the first skater to complete a quadruple toe-loop in combination with another jump in competition and in 1997 the first to
land a quadruple toe-loe/ triple toe-loop.
He was a career-low 10th at last year's worlds in Vancouver. While he wasn't overtly criticized the media trumpeted that it was time for Elvis to
hang up his blades. No doubt that the challenge to win an Olympic medal in 2002 will be one of of the toughest of his career.
What Canada Did
Feb. 14: Elvis Stojko, Richmond Hill, finished eighth in free program and eighth in final total in a field of 28.
Feb. 12: Elvis Stojko, Richmond Hill, Ont., was seventh after short program among 29 starters
Elvis Stojko Photos
Stojko stumbles during competion
Elvis Stojko competes in the men's short program
Stojko skates to a 7th ranking
Stojko stumles during his short program
Stojko throws a toy animal in the air
More Elvis Stojko Stories
Stojko confident on medal prospects
Let Elvis wave bye
Stojko optimistic about Olympic medal chances
Stojko remains optimistic
2002 Games Figure Skating Coverage
