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Lefebvre shows mettle
Or so it would appear.
But Chantal Lefebvre is, as the saying goes, much tougher than she looks. Tough enough, back in the fall, to endure the energy-sapping effects of an inner ear infection. To make it, less than two weeks later, to Russia for a competition that, when weighed against her health, barely counted as important.
It's a toughness being tested one more time this week at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships. Last night, she and partner Michel Brunet of Gatineau skated into medal position in the ice dance, placing third in the compulsories. They're right on the heels of U.S. champs Naomi Lang and Peter Tchernyshev.
There's no question about the leaders -- seven-time Canadian champions Shae-Lynn Bourne of Chatham and Victor Kraatz stood out far above the rest. This is just another routine stop for Bourne and Kraatz on the way to next month's worlds in Finland, where they hope to improve on three straight bronze-medal finishes.
For Lefebvre, 21, of LaSalle, Que., and Brunet, 28, of Gatineau, there is much to gain. They've never won a medal at an international event. The importance of prize money -- $24,750 for a silver medal, $16,500 for the bronze -- can't be overstated.
"We've improved so much since the beginning of the year," said Brunet, who was enthused to see one mark of 5.7 go up on the board and several other 5.5s. "We've never skated compulsories like that before ... we were so relaxed.
"You don't want to make (the prize money) a big issue, but it's certainly important down the line. When you're alone in your room, or when you start looking at the results, that's when you start to think about the big bucks (you might win)."
They're certainly in the game against Lang and Tchernyshev, a team they're familiar with. Lefebvre and Brunet crossed paths with the Americans in two Grand Prix events, finishing one place behind them in both (the U.S. team was fifth, the Canadians sixth). It should be a tight battle here.
All of Lefebvre and Brunet's hopes nearly came crashing down with a thud less than a week ago, however, in practice at the Minto Skating Club. While doing some work on stroking, Lefebvre slipped to the ice and slid into the boards, back first. The pain was excruciating. And frightening.
"I couldn't move at all. It hurt so much," said Lefebvre. "I thought something was broken in my back."
While it wasn't quite that bad, Brunet said only on Sunday did they know for sure they'd be able to compete here.
"We tested it out on Saturday and it wasn't looking good (to compete). We said if (on Sunday) we can't do it, we're (withdrawing)."
Lefebvre wasn't about to let that happen. She stepped up her physiotherapy treatments, and there was no hint of a problem last night. Both the Tango Romantica and Blues were skated freely and strongly, with Lefebvre and Brunet earning second-place ordinals from two of seven judges for the first dance and from three for the second.
"I'm all right now," said Lefebvre. "I've been doing lots of physio. My back is still pretty tight ... I don't feel it when I'm skating, I feel it more when I'm walking."
Brunet wasn't surprised.
"She's such a winner ... that's why we were able to be here," he said. "It hurts, you know it's going to hurt. But when it's in your head that you want to be the best you can be, you're able to put the pain aside and that's what she did."