deep video interview of Patrick Chan (from Phoenix Satellite TV)

you can see it here(six part,half an hour):
http://v.ifeng.com/news/society/201108/cf850c62-c268-4bcf-8943-cf4f540be8f2.shtml

It's a famous show on Phoenix Satellite TV(HK,China) for 8 years,well,something like Today show.They always interview government officials、writters、directors、actors etc...so it's a little different with other sports interviews. Patrick talked about skating and other personal things,maybe you would like to see it.

PS:universal sports posted a short interview too:
http://www.universalsports.com/vide...fc-ff22e4a04261.html#summer+with+patrick+chan
if you can't watch Universal sports video,you can see it on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_SRq_sgIGU

He mentioned Stephane Lambiel and Yuna Kim

PS:the video interview isn't upload by me,it's from the TV's official site,so if you want to post it to other site needn't ask for my permission ~

Thanks for linking the video luCN. This is a very good interview. They are 6 parts to it. The print version.

Patrick is repeatedly referred to as 21 years old. Chinese age I suppose.

Really good interview, thanks for sharing. I really like and appreciate Patrick Chan even more now. The interviewer also spoke that she once interviewed Michelle Kwan too, I'd love to check out that interview if it can be found somewhere. (Ahh found it http://v.ifeng.com/e/200905/3cb96113...c3021e85.shtml )

Some Highlights including

- Patrick Chan speak Mandarin (too cute and giggle worthy)

- Patrick thought $40k a year Colorado university was too expensive and
decide to forgo Uni for now. Interviewer was surprised he was not offered a scholarship even as a world champion (May be is a Us/Canada thing - Has other figure skaters got scholarships in the past because of skating? e.g Flatt, Alyssa etc?)

- He has got good sporting genes. His dad emigrated from Hongkong at age 4, and was the Qubec Table Tennis Champion. His mum came from China came to Canada at age 20, certified coach for tennis and skiing, and was still playing tennis at 8th month pregnancy with Patrick. (!)

- Difference between Patrick and Chinese Athlete training environment were highlighted, such as the training mentality, pressure etc. In China, it is very much a job, work hard, full of pain and tears (interviewer jokingly implied) and the coaches are just like parents, the country provide everything.

Patrick mentioned the importance of having fun but hard work too, his financial pressures include

- USD $150k-200k training costs for preparing for Vancouver while training in US
- USD $250k for coaching

Massive financial burden. Although Canadian government tries to help include some commercial interest, fundraiser they were able to support about 10% of training costs. Everything else is up to the family, as a result, Patrick became mature quickly and learnt to save money. Once he even took the bus to save money after a flight to a press conference, and he was almost late.

- He mentioned he relies on fundraising raising by family and friends (a group) to support his skating, like a fund raising event in a Chinese restaurants on Sept 9th when he goes back to Toronto. It is in the form of a silent auction where they sell tables, each ticket is $130 Canadian Dollars, or you can buy a whole table, or be a title sponsor is $10k.

- Leading to the Olympics, things were good when the interest was there, after the Olympics, it was difficult for a lot of athlete because the money / budget is just not there from many past sponsors. He mentioned he has only 1 sponsor left.

I had no idea how strapped for cash he is, incredible really. It is really nice to see the Canadian / Chinese Community really support him to eventually become the world champion.

- Patrick's parents were credit for their incredible support. His mother quit her job and stood by his side through the highs and lows and was a source of comfort and mental strength when he had difficulties. His father is an accountant, and although have decent salary but is hardly enough to support this expensive sport, and the family appears to be still in debt to support their son.

- A very touching comment from the interviews was that Patrick's parent are not 'Tiger Mums' or 'Tiger Dads'. Quite opposite actually. Patrick's mum often quipped "you are the luckiest Chinese boy in Canada" and always tell him just be above average, and she'd be fine with it.

- He took piano and ballet when he was young to develop musicality and movement.

- He is taking economics and business subjects for all sort of reasons, but more so for a good financially stabled future. He mentioned it is good to have complete and balanced skill set.

- The interviewer confirmed Patrick admit to her he took up skating shows to ensure he has enough funding for next year, and the show in China is the first one he has done in China/Taiwan. The interviewer mentioned she was still able to see how devoted Patrick was to 100% devoted and committed in his performance. It was the first time the interviewer managed to see his performing live, and she commented it was so different from the combative competition environment and really made figure skating beautiful.

- The interviewer made a thoughtful conclusion from the interview. She couldn't help but to speculate that although the sporting strategy in China can guarantee they select only the very best athlete, and guarantee them focus entirely on the gold and silver, even though Patrick Chan's path appears to be more difficult and even stressful, but during the entire abstract process, a young man full potential and capability were tried and tested from all sides.

Having experienced and endured through all this, his world is bigger and wider. And in his professional and life's journey would be travelled longer and further.

Thank you so much for the link and the highlights, LuCN and os168!

Just watched youtube. Will watch the rest when I have more time.

(By the way, I'm with Patrick on this one - Federer all the way, win or lose.)