journal

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Title: What a year...
 

Hi everyone.

As always thank you for taking time to visit my website. I hope everyone is well and you are all enjoying the change in weather with minimal allergies. Since my last entry I've competed at my fifth World championship, trained in Russia, spoken with 'The Donald' and gone house hunting.

A week and a half before the World Championships I left New Jersey to train in Moscow. I was so excited to go back and see a lot of my friends who I don't get to see often enough, train and get charged up for the Worlds. Once again, I trained at Olympiskii with Elena Anatolievna Tchaikovskaya and her group. The conditions were perfect as always and I felt very comfortable training there. My practices went reasonably well and I always get so inspired from being in Russia.

On one of my evenings in Moscow I went to the Bolshoy to see "Le Corsaire." I was very excited to be a guest of Nikolay Tsiskaridze once again. The ballet was gorgeous, I think it is now my favorite, surpassing "Swan Lake." After the performance I went backstage to meet with Nikolay and have a picture made. Backstage at the Bolshoy is very interesting because you literally stand on the stage behind the curtain, so I definitely felt strong inspiration for my championship having stood on the stage of the Bolshoy and being wished good luck by a ballet legend like Nikolay. I was sad to leave Moscow, but there was definitely work I needed to tend to in Sweden!

While I was in Russia it was like I was in a bubble and I didn't hear any news so I was completely centered when I got to Sweden. The practices leading up to my event were good, but nothing spectacular. It is always so nice to be at a world championship because EVERYONE is there and as much as we'd all hate to admit it, in a weird way, we're all family and it's good to see your family for the most part! My short program was very strong, probably the best one of my season and I finished in second place. My jumps felt like they floated. I was very happy with the performance and I felt strong and confident going into the long program.

When I went out to skate in the long program I was scared to death. I don't know why, but I think I was really afraid to have a disaster and to make mistakes. Galina Yakovlevna could see that in my face and reminded me before my skate to just think rotation, land, continue, and so on. I tried to do that and I think I did okay. It was probably one of the worst performances of my season, but in no way was I upset. I landed my quad on two feet again, I was shaky on most of my jump landings and had to fight for everything, but that was a victory for me, I fought. A year ago I know I would have given up. I skated second out of the final six so I had to wait to see if I'd win a medal or not. I was in the mixed zone when I found out I had won a medal and I was so thrilled. It's hard to describe, but it was a huge weight off my shoulders to see the season through, and not stop fighting until the end. I finished the night in third place and I won the only medal for the United States, I was so proud.

The day after my competition ended was the gala. I skated my "Ave Maria" exhibition number and I think I skated great. It was a perfect day, Easter Sunday, to skate "Ave Maria." The arena was filled to capacity for all three of my performances and the Swedish audience welcomed everyone like they were their own sportsmen. The audience is one thing I'll always remember from this championship. When I went onto the ice and when I got off the ice, there were flags from all nations flying for me. American, Russian, Japanese, Swedish and so on. I was so touched by that. Everyone knows that I appreciate all countries, not only my own, and to be supported by fans from many nations of the world is so amazing. I felt like I was competing for every nation almost!

The World Championship was very interesting as a spectator. I watched most of it on Eurosport from my hotel room, but I was so interested in every event. The ladies were a real nail biter, and I'm so happy that Mao Asada is our new World champion. The pairs were filled with drama and how fantastic it was to see the French win their world title. I even got to see a few of the men, Sergey Voronov impressed me so much. I also thought Brian Joubert and Jeffrey Buttle skated fantastic and very deservingly are the top two in the world.

I was very shocked to hear that Evan Lysacek wouldn't be competing. I heard when I arrived from Moscow that he'd been injured and I honestly felt so terrible for him. I don't like being a "team", but thats all any reporter could ask me about and it was strange that he wasn't there with the rest of the best athletes from the US. I know how hard we all work as athletes and how much our lives center on figure skating and how the World Championship is supposed to be a climax of the years work and I was sorry he couldn't compete. I hope he has a quick recovery and is back in top form for next season. I know we have a lot of bad press out there, but all reporters take things out of context and flip stories around to sell, and I really am not heartless and bitter towards Evan. I am happy to have a rival who is so competitive and who keeps pushing me to better myself.

Now that my season is over I can look back and say I'm really proud. I helped Team USA win the Japan versus America event in October, I won an award for my adoration of Russia, won my first Cup of China gold medal, my fourth medal and first gold at Cup of Russia, became the first American singles skater ever to win Cup of Russia, competed in my first Grand Prix Final, took second at the US Nationals in a very close competition, and got my first world medal. I have a lot to be proud of from this year and I'm so happy I could turn myself around. All of my changes this season have helped me grow into a real contender and I'm so happy to be back.

Looking ahead into the off season and summer training, I am seeing only good things. I'll be performing in ice shows all around the world. At this point I'm confirmed to perform in Dreams on Ice and Champions On Ice in Japan and a show in Skokie, Illinois. I have been invited to perform in many other shows and I'm trying to schedule everything out so I have a long enough summer to create new programs and start training again. I will keep my schedule updated as I get updated about where I'll be performing. I wish I was performing more in the U.S but at this point it looks like it could be three shows tops for this touring season. I'm excited to travel though! I have made no decisions about music, choreography or anything yet, but I'm sure there will be news in my next Journal Entry.

I just had the thought that I can't believe I'll turn twenty four this summer. :( In happier subjects, I was congratulated on my world medal by Mr. Donald Trump at a benefit for Figure Skating in Harlem and I've begun looking for houses in New Jersey. The taxes are insane though.

This journal entry has been very unfocused and perhaps badly written but I think I covered all the news. As always, forgive me if I offended anyone. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of my loyal fans who supported me this season. I hope I can keep making you proud and keep you all on the edge of your seats waiting for next season. I also want to thank everyone who has helped me this season to get prepared, stay healthy and believe in myself. That's all from me. Enjoy Spring and be well.

With love,
-Johnny