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Huge challenge facing Jeff Langdon
He was Canada's man of the moment at the world figure skating championships.
As Langdon spoke, his teammate Emanuel Sandhu -- the amazing teen who has been touted for figure skating greatness -- whisked by, his coach Joanne McLeod right beside him. Nobody walked away from Langdon, the guy who got lost in the shuffle even though he'd posted a commendable ninth-place finish at his first worlds a year ago.
The irony was almost too delicious.
"Everyone expected Emanuel to do so well here," said Langdon. "I didn't have that kind of pressure.
"I just had to worry about myself."
Maybe that's why all Canadian eyes will be focused on the quietly confident 22-year-old from Smiths Falls tonight, when the men's free skate final is held. Maybe that's why Langdon was able to coolly check off all the jumps -- triple Axel-double toe, triple flip, and a solid double Axel -- in the best short program he's ever laid down.
And maybe that's why it was all too much for Sandhu, a likeable, classy young man himself, who finished a crushing 29th yesterday in his world championships debut. He'll have to watch from the stands tonight -- this competition is over for him, as only the best 24 from the short program get to go at again in the free skate.
So much was expected of Sandhu in Minneapolis -- many were convinced a top-10 finish was in the cards -- and so little was said about Langdon, who literally had to skate his way into this event. His entry here wasn't signed, sealed and delivered by the Canadian Figure Skating Association until after his strong free skate at the Nagano Winter Olympics, where he finished 12th.
These were the same Olympics, you may recall, that didn't include Sandhu as part of the Canadian team, sparking outrage from figure skating officials and fans across the country. The 17-year-old had been simply brilliant in finishing second at the Canadian championships in Hamilton in January. But it was third-place finisher Langdon who got to go to Nagano -- he'd met Canadian Olympic criteria for the Games, Sandhu hadn't.
So while Sandhu became the centre of intense attention, Langdon went quietly about his business with coach Doug Leigh at the Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie.
And was better off for it.
"It gave us our own space before we came here," said Langdon. "We weren't hounded by a lot of people ... putting big expectations on my shoulders."
Privately, though, the snub stung Langdon, who had to prove himself at the Olympics, then go through it all again this week.
"Big time, it bothered him," said Michelle Leigh, his choreographer. "Of course it would, we're all humans. He wondered whether he was good enough.
"Every day, we had to remind him how good he is."
Said Langdon: "There were times when it was hard. Sure, I wanted a little of that spotlight, but I have no control over that."
Yesterday, Langdon showed a Target Center crowd -- not the mention the nine judges who held his fate in their hands -- that he does, indeed, belong at this lofty level. To prove himself one more time.
"I came here to show them how good I am," he said. "You want to prove to yourself and to the judges that you can do it."
"But there have been a lot of questions about me for weeks. After Canadians, I was wondering 'will they send me to Olympics?' They finally gave me the green light but then it was, `I don't know if they'll send me to worlds.' I had to go out and do it all over again.
"It was more than I've ever had to deal with. I had to meet expectations time and time again, but I had confidence I could be here (at worlds)."
Yesterday, Jeff Langdon made a statement, showed that, yes, he does belong here. He's no Elvis Stojko yet, and maybe he never will be. But he fits right in among the world's elite.
"That's as well as he's skated in a situation like this," said an admiring Doug Leigh. "And you measure (skaters) strictly on days like today.
"This was a test and today, he passed it."