There is a new hour-long video
interview with Brian and he mentions Javi quite a few times, sharing a couple of fun anecdotes from Javi's early years in Toronto.
Around 13:40 Brian talks about how taking some time off the ice could be beneficial and that different skaters may have different schedules. He says Javi is a perfect example of this and talks a little bit about how Javi did not want to start training early in the summer when he first started with Brian. They eventually negotiated and Brian learned as a coach to not be too bossy and tell skaters "no, you have to be here at this particular time." (I think this story has been shared before but if I recall correctly there were tiny differences regarding the exact times/months things took place, so maybe Brian, just like Javi, is not always very good when it comes to getting timelines right
)
Around 31:50, about getting Javi to seriously practice his spins during his first year in Toronto. The way Brian talks about it here is pretty hilarious
I think the improvement was quite obvious for all to see.
Around 54:25, this story about Javi and his bike is new to me so I transcribe a little here (forgive me if it's been shared before). Here in this interview Brian is asked whether any of his skaters have ever pulled pranks on him. Brian says that "If anybody would have, it would have been Javi" and shares this story:
"I have this one thing with my skaters, kind of the number 1 rule when we start together with new students. The one thing that I cannot tolarate is if somebody lies to me. So don't tell me a lie. Tell me the truth, I am a big boy, I can deal with it. I may not want to hear it, but if I ask you a question, tell me the truth.
"So one time Javi came into the rink and he was a little bit late, and that makes me a little crazy, too. So he was late and obviously had not warmed up yet. So I said to him, 'Javi, did you do your warm-up, at least?' The session was just starting. He was like, 'Well, I came here with my bike.' I am like, 'OK.' Because he lives down the hill, so to come up to the club with his bike, that would be a pretty good warm-up. And then one of the kids came over and said: 'uh, Brian, he came with his bike... on the bus.' (Brian laughs) So he took the bus up the hill and had his bike with him. He didn't lie to me, but he said he came with his bike. I'm like, 'Oh, OK, he didn't come on his bike, he came with his bike.' I'm not sure if that's a prank or not, but anyway, I thought it was quite funny."
But really, the whole interview is great. Like, the stories about how a teenage Brian tried to show off for Toller Cranston at a seminar and tried to impress his own coach by running past his house are absolutely cute. Brian talks about his own career as a skater and also shares a lot of insights as a coach. He really has a great mind and tons of love for skating, and is just a wonderful person. If you have time, or just want to watch/listen to something positive during this difficult time, I highly recommend this interview. :luv17:
Big hugs to everyone.
I am always amazed by how he and Brian (and the team at TCC) were able to develop that rapport very quickly despite the early struggles. Last year when Meryl interviewed Brian and asked about how to get the right coach-athlete relationship, Brian answered by saying "It is automatic, like with Javi it's automatic, it's automatic and it's instant."
We will have to wait and see on a lot of things. If the economy takes a significant blow, it might takes some time to recover, and that would even affect more long-term plans/projects, like the support skaters get from their federations in the next couple of years, or maybe even the dream of getting a high performance center for ice sports in Spain.
Oh and tomorrow will be Javi's birthday. Wishing him a happy birthday, though I guess this one will be quite unusual.)
