Denny Morrison Website

Over the last couple of seasons Denny Morrison has managed to make quite a name for himself when it comes to his chances in the middle distances at the international speed skating competitions. After two gold World Cup medals in the 1000m and several medals at the World Single Distances Championships, he is now considered to be a definite medal contender in the 1000m as well as the 1500m. Of course, Morrison’s rise to the speed skating top has not gone unnoticed in The Netherlands either, where he is slowly getting more popular among speed skating fans. Talking to Morrison about his ever growing fan base revealed that this is a side of speed skating that he definitely seems to appreciate. Moreover, he found out that there’s never a final ‘weirdest question you were ever asked...’

By Jolanda Abbes

What’s your opinion on the website www.denny-morrison.com, made by Naomi?

“I was really pumped when Naomi told me she was going to make a website for me. I thought it was going to take a long time to set up, but she did it so quick, and I think it’s great!”

 What’s your favourite part of the website?

“My favourite part of the website would have to be the skating pictures section. It gives me a good chance to critique my technique from the most recent competition! The movies section is also good, because who doesn't prefer watching a movie over pictures. Hopefully we can get more videos linked up soon – and hopefully I’m winning in those ones!”

Obviously, you’re getting more and more successful and recognized, do you feel that this is changing you? And has it made you more cautious towards people you don’t know?

“I'm not too worried about it. I think it’s neat, and I don't want to be one of those snobby athletes who don’t take the time to say hi to their fans if they get the chance. Usually at every competition in Heerenveen I will take a stroll around the rink once I’m done racing, and sign autographs for anyone who wants them or get pictures taken – I appreciate the support they give during my races, so it’s the least I can do to come say hi.”

When and how did you realize for the first time that people started to notice you?

“I think the first time I felt ‘noticed’ was after the Olympics in Torino. A man approached me with his wife to congratulate me on my Team Pursuit medal and told me I would win gold in the 1000m in 2010!”

When you’re in Heerenveen, do you enjoy talking to fans, signing autographs, et cetera?
”Yeah, especially the super enthusiastic ones!”

How strange is it to see signs with your name on them, made by people you don’t even know?

“That is the best! After my race I take note of where the signs are and make it a priority to go thank them later and sign their sign if they'd like.”

How important are the signs with your name on them, et cetera for you?

“It’s a great feeling when you’re racing to know that the crowd is supporting you even though you're from another country.”

Can you remember what went through your mind when you skated in a sold-out Thialf for the first time? Was it intimidating?

“No, I don’t think it was intimidating at all. My first World Cup in Heerenveen was when I was still a junior, and I skated the 1500m in the B group – placing 7th with a 1:51.7... I think. But because I only skated in the B group – when it was far from a sold-out crowd – I still got to experience the crowd from the sidelines, while watching Chad and Carl duke it out during a 10k. It was phenomenally loud in there, and I just remember laughing because the crowd was just completely unbelievable! The band and the singing and dancing and the waves all just add to my enjoyment of racing in the Thialf.”

If you had to choose, where would you rather skate a World Championship: in Calgary or in Heerenveen?

“Calgary – sorry Dutch fans! But as good as the crowd is in Holland, it doesn't take away from the fact that I skate better in Calgary on my home ice. Compare my results from the World All-round Championships 2006 to the World All-round Championships 2007, and note the 10k!”

What is the strangest question a reporter and/or fan ever asked you?
”I suppose one of the strangest ones that I can think of was when the NOS reporter asked me on the morning before my 1000m in Calgary: ‘Who do you think the first skater to do 1:06.-- will be?’ 1:06 being pretty much a guaranteed winning time, if accomplished. I think it’s a strange question, because it’s like asking a race car driver ‘Who is going to win today?’ or ‘Who do you think the best driver is?’ It sort of implies that whoever the question is being asked to, is not the person expected to win. No one trains this much for something to accept defeat before the race begins! Regardless, I answered Jeremy ;).”

What is the weirdest/most memorable thing that ever happened to you with a reporter and/or fan?

“This is also a story involving NOS – but funnier. I was driving to the oval for my pre-race skate the day before the 1000m at the World Cup Finale in Calgary, March 2007. It had snowed that morning so the roads were icy, and just as I was about to pull into the parking lot at the Olympic Oval, a van slid through a stop sign and t-boned my car! As it turned out, it was the NOS crew who hit me, as they were also driving to the oval with the intention to do an interview with me that day. Well, they got their interview, and also made quite a funny story out of it – check out the movies section of the website!” (Dutch subtitles)

How do you deal with the fact that speed skating takes you away from home so much?

“I like to travel, and especially like to see new places. I am especially excited to skate in Nagano this winter, even though it is at the end of potentially 10+ weeks on the road! I don't think I will skate at every competition though, as I want to still have some fuel left in the tank for Nagano. This is good because it will give me a chance to go back home and recharge my batteries – both literally and figuratively – before taking off again.”

What do your friends and family back home think of the fact you’re getting more and more famous in the Netherlands?

“I'm not even sure they really recognize it. Speed skating is quite a bit different in Canada, and nobody here really knows how good the fans are in Holland until they skate a World Cup there.”

Like you said, in Canada speed skating isn't as popular as for example in Holland. Did things still change for you after winning silver at the Olympics or because of the upcoming Olympics in your own country?

“Maybe a little bit. Speed skating gets quite recognized by the Canadian media on Olympic years, because we always haul the most medals home. But after an Olympic year, it usually fades off until four years later. This seemed to happen again last season, but hopefully with the Olympics in our home country, the media will start following our successes a little more in the years leading up to our home games.”

Did you know that some speed skating fans want to know what certain speed skaters smell like? What’s your opinion on that?

“Well first off, I guess I should go back and change my answer to the ‘weirdest question ever’ question! I guess maybe some fans would just like to get more close up and personal??? I guess I will have to make sure I smell ok before making my rounds signing autographs after races!”

Despite an ever growing fan base all over the world, it seems fair to say that among Denny Morrison’s biggest supporters are probably his brother Jay, his sister Julie and his parents Carol and Dennis. Moreover, they have known him all his life, so whom better to talk to about Denny’s rise to the speed skating top than his closest relatives?

By Jolanda Abbes

Denny Morrison (22) can look back on a good season so far. After a rocky start he succeeded in picking himself up again, and eventually he managed to skate to numerous personal bests, several World Cup gold medals in the 1000m, and a 500m gold medal and a sixth place overall at the World All-round Championships in Berlin. The season before that was impressive as well, with a couple of World Cup medals, including his first gold medal in the 1000m, and medals in the 1000m and the 1500m at the World Sprint Championships, the World All-round Championships and the World Single Distances Championships. These good results over the last few seasons have gained him a lot of support all over the world, but his performances are probably most closely watched by his parents, his brother and his sister.

Like Denny, his older brother Jay (24) is a speed skater on the Canadian national team and like his brother, Jay is training with Marcel Lacroix. Because of this and the fact that they grew up together, Jay has not only been a close witness to his brother’s rise to the top, but also has an inside view on how Denny developed as a speed skater: “It was always quite evident that as a child Denny had a knack for skating, especially short track when he had such a great body position from a young age. As he became older, skating became a more important part of his life. He moved to Calgary and started training regularly in an amazing way. Never had I seen someone do hard programs the way he did them. He is constantly training to perfect all of the little things and relentlessly pursues the search for more speed.”

Denny’s older sister Julie (26) is currently not in any way involved in speed skating, although she did give it a try at a younger age: “I was a member of the Fort St. John Elks Speedskating Club for about three years in my early teens, but I wasn't fast at all, so I eventually quit.” Right now she works as a map-maker for a seismic surveying company in the oil & gas sector. According to Julie it was not just talent that helped Denny to become the skater that he is today: “Denny grew up striving to be as good of a skater as his older brother Jay, so he always had someone to chase and to look up to. I think it was just a matter of time and experience before they began rivaling each other. Denny always wanted to one day make it to the Olympics, so with hard work and perseverance his dream came true once and hopefully will again!” Denny himself also admits to the fact that as a child he looked up to his brother: “Looking back now, my brother was always the one I idolized growing up. I hope we will stand on an international podium together one day!”

According to his parents, Denny excelled in more sports than just speed skating when he was young. Nevertheless, his international successes as a speed skater came as a surprise to them. Mother Carol reflects: “Denny has always had talent in every sport he's participated in. I don't think we ever thought about whether or not he'd be a top athlete until he broke through on the World Cup circuit though – and even then it took some time to sink in.”

Along with Denny’s successes came the fame and the fans, something which didn’t come as a total surprise to Jay: “It is not unexpected to me that people are noticing Denny; he has a very distinct skating technique and his results have been fantastic in the past couple of years.” So, is it strange for Jay to see that his younger brother is getting more and more popular in for example The Netherlands? “It is not strange to see, because I hardly see it. Additionally, Denny is still just Denny. He has his friends, I have mine, he has his fans... Uhhh... I have mine too???? ;) Maybe not so much. But I am happy he is noticed because what he does is pretty fantastic and it should be noticed by people.” Julie appreciates the recognition of her brother as well: “It's really nice to see how his successes are recognized internationally, especially in The Netherlands, where speed skating is huge. It isn't too strange for me to see though, because he has always been a great skater, so it almost seems normal to me in a way; almost like it was expected to happen because that was the next step.”

Fame and success sometimes have a tendency to change people, whether the person involved is a famous actor or a successful athlete. So does Denny’s family think that his successes have changed him in any way? His parents feel that if there were any changes, they were positive ones, as Carol explains: “We are impressed and very proud with how he has been handling himself. Any change so far has been positive in that he has grown personally and has become very comfortable talking to the media.” Neither do his siblings see any big changes. Julie: “I don't think Denny's success has changed him all that much. I guess he is just more conscious of his health and takes his training more seriously, because he knows that slacking off at all could be detrimental to his next competition.” Jay: “Like I said before, Denny is still just Denny.”

Of course there’s more to Denny Morrison than the mere fact that he’s a speed skater. According to Jay there are several things that people who do not know Denny other than as a speed skater, should realize about him: “There are a lot of things! But I guess most important is that he is great in many ways outside of speed skating. He coaches little kids at summer camps, skates and talks with old and new faces when he goes back home – to Fort St. John – and is always there to help. For example, he mentions things to his teammates at practice that he recognizes could be improved and how to go about improving them. Denny is a great roommate, teammate and brother!” Julie on the other hand thinks there is an entirely different thing that every fan should know about her brother and even suggests a way for fans to get more close up and personal with him: “Fans of Denny should know that he can cook a mean pizza, so instead of an autograph, maybe next time they should ask him for dinner! ”

First photo: Denny at the age of 8. Second photo: Denny at the age of 10, both are taken by Dennis Morrison.