John Nicks
John Nicks
John Allen Wisden Nicksis a British figure skating coach and former pair skater. With his sister and pairs partner, Jennifer Nicks, he is the 1953 World champion. As a coach, his skating pupils have included Peggy Fleming, pairs team Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner, Kristi Yamaguchi, Sasha Cohen, and Ashley Wagner...
assign coach continue crop current depth far finished good government junior method perhaps produce question results russian seeing skaters system whether wonderful
Not that they don't have wonderful skaters, but when I look at the results from some of the junior competitions, I'm not seeing the depth now that I used to see. So I have a question as to when this current crop of Russian skaters are finished whether they'll be as strong. Originally, the (Soviet) system was to assign a wonderful coach to perhaps one or two wonderful competitors and government would reimburse the coaches. Once that was removed, there was anticipation that this method wouldn't continue to produce any good skaters. So far it's been wrong. We'll see in the future.
compete difficult legitimate michelle seen
It's been very difficult to strategize with Michelle because I haven't seen her compete but one time, and that wasn't a legitimate competition.
heard practice rest
I thought she should practice. Then, when I heard of her rest issues, I thought she shouldn't do it.
fought skaters
She fought back and didn't give up. A lot of other skaters would have packed it up in the same situation.
mother perhaps
Her mother called me, and I think she was perhaps a little apprehensive about my reaction. But I was very positive. I was only too pleased.
aches few
She has a few aches and a few pains. As we all do when we get older.
coached obvious ready skating standard tonight
I think it was obvious that the standard of skating tonight was not particularly good. I coached the same (system) for 45 years; now in two years you have to get ready for something else.
attitude came focused
She came back a different skater. She used to think about winning. Now, she's more focused on excelling. It's the right attitude for a champion.
good produces understanding
We have an understanding of what is good for her and what produces good results.