Elvis In His Element, Even If He Looks Out Of Place Three-Time World Champion Stojko Brings Macho Edge To Figure Skating
Forget the fluff.
If Elvis Stojko is to finally win his figure skating Olympic gold medal, it will be done his way, with no frills and a macho edge that judges have learned to expect and appreciate from the stocky Canadian.
Stojko’s strategy is to be himself when he skates. Owner of a black belt in karate, he sometimes looks like a kickboxer on ice in a sport more accustomed to the classical approach. It’s sort of like a rock ‘n’ roll singer working the Metropolitan Opera. Perfect for a guy named Elvis.
Stojko knows his reputation.
“I don’t want people to say, ‘That’s a martial arts program. That’s his style,”’ he said. “You can see the martial arts influence, but we see also the influence of what comes out just from my skating naturally.
“The program incorporates every part of me as a human being and what I’m doing on the ice, and I want to showcase it all.”
Stojko starts his medal chase with the short program, centerpiece of CBS-TV’s Olympic coverage tonight. The network also will show the men’s 1,500-meter speedskating, the men’s downhill combined and the snowboarding men’s halfpipe. The late night show will have live hockey between the United States and Sweden.
Stojko’s performance will be limited by the restrictions of the short program. There are eight required elements that must be completed within 2-1/2 minutes and they count for one-third of the final score. The rest comes in the more interpretive long program, when Stojko’s personal touch will be evident.
A three-time world champion, the 25-year-old Stojko finished seventh at Albertville and second at Lillehammer. He knows he comes into these games as the favorite and he welcomes that role.
“You’ll feel pressure,” Stojko said. “It’s just a matter of how you look at it and how you deal with it.”
xxxx WHAT’S AHEAD Medals at stake: Alpine skiing, men’s downhill, men’s combined downhill; luge doubles; nordic combined K90 individual.