Q&A: Kurt Browning - World Figure Skating Champion

Copyright 1991 Bergen Record Corp.

Kurt Browning, the world figure skating champion from Canada, is favored to win a gold medal in the Olympics at Albertville, France, in February.

Q: Brian Orser, a fellow Canadian, was expected to win the gold in 1988 but settled for a silver instead. What did that teach you?

A: I learned he had a tiny stumble and lost by a tenth or one judge. And he still walked around the next day. He still had a life and still had a family.

And if I learned anything it means the gold medals at the Olympic Games are not everything.

Q: What do you think of your chances for the gold, coming off the world title at Munich in March?

A: As three-time world champion, I would be naive not to think of myself as one of the favorites. But there are five guys who skated so well there who should be contenders. It's a one-day shot. I've learned a couple of years ago, before everyone skates, everyone is equal.

A couple of times I went into competition thinking I had some rights to the gold medal and I was taught a really quick lesson. I don't think that way anymore. It works for me. It makes me hungry.

Q: Does your being the first person to do a quadruple jump, four revolutions in the air, when you competed at the 1988 World Championships in Budapest give you an edge?

A: Other guys are now doing it. You have to keep ahead of everyone else.

Q: You won an event at Albertville last month even though some critics said you placed first only because of your reputation. What was the problem there?

A: I was having some trouble with my ankle and it messed up my landings and that put out my back. It's not really a muscle spasm. It's just really tight.

Q: What about the judging?

A: There are times to go against the judges' decisions. But when they place you first is not one of the times. It takes a long time to become a three-time world champion and sometimes you have to be lucky.

Q: Are there other advantages to being a world skating champion?

A: It means a lot to the people in Canada and a lot to me. There are a lot of honors, such as being honorary captain of the Edmonton Oilers in October. There is a lot of pressure, but it counteracts with some great things.