November 30, 2001

These last few months have been "hot and cold." I have skated very well on occasion, and also skated very poorly. The good news about being hot and cold is ... at some point you are HOT! Right? So now I just have to time it so that I am hot at the right time.

I have been practicing very well recently, and have been frustrated by my inconsistent results. My coach, Audrey Weisiger, has been working a lot on my consistency in practice sessions. Audrey says that I tend to show flashes of great performances in practice, just before I pull everything together in competition. I feel that I am very close to being at my peak, at my very best. This is why I am anxious to compete again. I just need to continue building on my consistency, so that my peak performances take place at the National Championships and the Olympics.

I will be competing one more time before those events, at a qualifying event in Pittsburgh. It is important for me to skate well so I can ride a wave of confidence into Nationals.

My wife, coach, and family have been so helpful and supportive as we draw closer to the Olympics. Everyone seems to know their role in how they can optimize my training. I guess since this is our second time in the Olympic quest, we are more prepared and equipped for the challenge ahead.

All of my focus from now until February is on the National Championships and the Olympics. Eighteen years of skating come down to these three months. Every day of training, every jump, every program, every ounce of sweat gets me that much closer to a medal.

-- Michael

 

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