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Han selected for figure skating in Sochi

 

Han selected for figure skating in Sochi

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AOC
Han selected for figure skating in Sochi

FIGURE SKATING: Brooklee Han has today had her selection confirmed for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

FIGURE SKATING: Brooklee Han has today had her selection confirmed for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

Han is confirmed as Australia’s representative for the ladies’ individual event in Sochi following the dismissal of an eligibility appeal last week. She joins Brendan Kerry (men’s individual), Danielle O’Brien and Greg Merriman (ice dancing) who were selected to the Team at the beginning of December.

“It is something that I have been hoping for my all of my life,” Han said of her Olympic selection.

“It’s a dream that I think most athletes have, and very few are fortunate enough to get a chance to actualise that dream. I feel very lucky to be where I am.”

Han, 18, who was born and raised in the USA but calls Melbourne home when she is in Australia, was recently back for the Australian Figure Skating Championships.

Skating in front of a home crowd at the Icehouse in Melbourne, Han took out the National Title for the first time in her career, the icing on the cake of a breakthrough year for the young skater.

At the final Olympic selection event - the Nebelhorn Trophy in Oberstdorf, Germany back in September, Han’s strong performances in both her short and free program saw her finish in overall fifth place – but most importantly, first out of non-qualified competitors, locking in the Sochi quota place.

A few weeks later, Han eclipsed her personal best from the Nebelhorn Trophy, scoring a total of 151.76 at the Volvo Open in Latvia, winning the event.

"I was really excited to go to Latvia as I knew that Evgeny Plushenko would also be competing," Han said after the event.

"To be at the same competition as him was so exciting, to have him win Senior Men and then I won Senior Ladies was just amazing.

"I was so proud and happy to see them raise the Australian flag and play "Advance Australia Fair". For me, it was a dream come true."

Han is now back in her training base of Redding in the USA preparing for the next big competition, the Four Continents Championships taking place in Taipei City from 20 – 26 January 2014. For her and her three teammates, it will be the last chance to fine-tune their competition routines ahead of the Sochi Games which get underway on 7 February.

Han will have her work cut out for her in the ladies’ competition in Sochi, facing 29 of the world’s top skaters all vying for a spot on the podium.

The 2010 Olympic Champion, Yuna Kim of Korea will go in to the event as the hot favourite to defend her title after also winning the 2013 World Championships. The return of Japan’s Miki Ando and the strength of her teammate Mao Asada will challenge Kim – not to mention the might of the USA, Canada and Russia.

Despite the serious depth of talent in the event, Han will go in to the Games with clear goals and steely determination to continue Australia’s proud representation in Olympic figure skating.

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