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 Vendredi, mars 30 @ 20:11:59 PDT |
Great end of season for Denny Morrison
 After
continuously showing progress throughout this season, it all came together for
Denny Morrison at the two final competitions of the season, when he earned his
first World Cup gold in Calgary, and was able to add two more silver medals and
a bronze medal at the World Single Distances Championships in Salt Lake City,
along with several personal bests in the short distances. During a
well-deserved break Morrison reflects on these last successful races and talks
about his plans for the very near future. By Jolanda
AbbesWhat’s
your opinion on your gold 1000m at the World Cup in Calgary? Were you
disappointed initially because you missed the world record by 0.2 seconds?
‘Yes, I was disappointed initially right after the
race because I just missed the world record. If you watch the replay of the
finish of my race, you will see me look up at the scoreboard in anticipation. I
thought my last lap in Calgary was going to be faster, and that is what I was
disappointed with once I warmed down from the race. I was excited to be able to
open 16.6 from the outer lane that weekend, because I had only ever opened that
fast once before (the weekend before) from the inner lane, and several people
were saying that I couldn’t do it from the outer. I knew after that fast of an
opener from the outer lane that I would have a faster lap than the last
weekend, because I could really build the second turn a lot. I tightened up a
little bit on the second last corner because I was so excited about doing a
24.7, but managed to relax and skate the backstretch and last corner. Unfortunately
I only did a 25.9 again, so I missed the world record because Shani’s last lap
in his world record race was faster.’
In Salt
Lake City you lost the 1000m by 0.02 seconds to Shani Davis. Where in your race
do you think you lost that race?
‘I think
there are several places where I lost 0.02 seconds. But I also think there were
a lot of things that I did to bring my time within 0.1 seconds of Shani. My
opener in Salt Lake City was 0.2 slower than in Calgary, yet I skated a 0.1
faster first lap (at 24.65). Had my opener been a 16.6 or faster like I wanted,
my first lap would have been faster yet, I am sure. That is a big thing that I
was upset about after this race, but for something smaller that may have
contributed to only 0.02 seconds, it could be something as simple as skating
about 2m off of the blocks in the last turn, because my legs were too tired to
hold the lean well enough to stay on the blocks.’
How
close to excellent were your 1000m and 1500m in Salt Lake City, were they the
best races possible at that time?
"Other than the things I just pointed out about
my 1000m, I would say that they were both quite excellent races for me at the
time. I think in the future, having still more experience skating head to head
against these super fast skaters will help make me a much better skater. In the
Salt Lake City 1500m against Shani, I came out of the second last turn and saw
him ahead of me, still so strong! I had a mental lapse and told myself I
couldn’t catch him. If I prevent that sort of thing from happening I will
certainly have a much better shot at getting them in the end, and even if I
don’t beat that person that I see, it’s possible it would help me to prevent
another person from beating me by 0.08.’
Which
distance was more satisfactory for you in Salt Lake City? Your silver 1000m or
your bronze personal best 1500m?
‘I was very happy with both the 1000m
and the 1500m. I think maybe I was happier after the 1500m was over, because it
was such a nice feeling to have the pressure off of my shoulders of racing
those huge, important, individual events. Also the fact that I skated a personal
best in the 1500m finally this season was something I was extremely pleased with.’
Which
results mean the most to you: your silver and bronze medals at the World Single
Distances Championships in Salt Lake City or your gold World Cup medal in
Calgary?
‘In terms
of skating the competitions, they both seemed equally as important – even
though the World Single Distances Championships is obviously the bigger
competition. There wasn’t as much hype about the World Single Distances
Championships as there is for something like the Olympics. Meanwhile, for a World
Cup, Calgary seemed to have a lot of hype around it for me, because it was in
Canada, and I was the poster boy! I am thrilled with my first World Cup gold,
but two silvers and a bronze at World Championships is just that much more
special.’
So
what’s next for you? When will you start concentrating on speed skating again?
‘I plan on doing a lot of
snowboarding this spring. I’ve been out five times already, and have a trip
planned to BC for this weekend, and hopefully a few more times after that. Once
it is nice enough outside, I will enjoy some mountain biking, and driving my
car around while it is nice. I also plan to buy a motorcycle once the roads are
clean enough. As you maybe can tell, it is going to be a little while before I
start concentrating on speed skating again! Usually it’s mid-May before I get
back into serious training.’
On June 9th 2007 Morrison is planning to
take part in the MS Bike Tour, a two day 180 km trip from Airdrie to Olds and back to raise money for MS.
Last year he raised just over
$1000, this year he’s planning to raise at least $1250. Anyone interested in
helping him reach this goal, see: Ms Bike Tour
Photo 1: Denny post Canadian WR TP, pre Dutch WR TP
Photo 2: Arne Dankers, Denny & Justin W
Photo 3: 1000m Podium Denny, Shani, and Hyou-Hyuk Lee
Photo 4: Denny Morrison
Credit: Stéphanie Lambert
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