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Jenna McCorkell: I’m devastated by Olympic slip-up
Thursday, 25 February 2010
Northern Ireland's Jenna McCorkell pictured during her Olympic Figure Skating short programme during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics at the Pacific Coliseum.
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Figure skater Jenna McCorkell said she is "devastated" after her “worst skate in four years” ended her Olympic hopes.
The Coleraine girl had her medal dreams dashed when she fell during the qualifying round in Vancouver.
It proved to be a costly mistake, with the 23-year-old crashing out of the competition after coming second last.
“I am just so devastated by what happened,” she said.
“I can’t change anything now, but I wish I could.
“I have had a great experience here but I am just so mad at what I did.”
The seven-times British champion added: “That was the worst I have skated in four years — and I have no idea why. I felt good in the warm-up.
“This will take some time to get over.”
Plucky Jenna tried her best to fight back the tears after the performance that saw her take a hard tumble after failing to land a triple lutz and double toeloop.
From then on the routine never recovered and her score of 40.64 was well below her personal best of 53.80 set just last month in the European Championships in |Estonia.
“Everything was working so well in practice . . . I feel that I have let everyone down,” she said.
Those sentiments are certainly not shared in Jenna’s home town.
Mayor of Coleraine Sandy Gilkinson said the Belgian-based girl had done the borough proud.
“Everyone here is delighted that Jenna made it to the Olympics,” the DUP man said.
“Our hearts go out to her after what happened. I’m sure she’s devastated, but she needn’t be. She will always be a hero to us.”
The skater’s parents, Craig and Ainsley, as well as her husband, Belgian international Kevin Van der Perren, were rink-side after her crushing disappointment.
Jenna, who is funded by Sport NI, is the most successful female skater to hail from Northern Ireland — and the first to make the Winter Games.
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Comments
21 Comments
just shrug it off and do it again...you go girl!!!.....you did good!!!!!
Posted by billy | 26.02.10, 04:34 GMT
another export we can be truly proud of............typical effort and attitude of the thousands and thousands of great young people from here we never hear about .
Posted by willeric | 25.02.10, 16:03 GMT
As i said in the other article it is great to see Northern Ireland put on the map for all the right reasons...Jenna you have nothing to be ashamed off - did you know Jim can't even get out of bed! lol!
Posted by Molly | 25.02.10, 15:31 GMT
I wish any one the very best in non-political sports from NI. Pitty she didnt get a bit further. Wish her all the best in the future.
Pity you can't spell properly. No need to refer to the ifa either.
Posted by Tom | 25.02.10, 12:54 GMT
nothin to be ashamed of...
Posted by k.tait | 24.02.10, 22:17 GMT
Poor girl. Not the end of her career though. Good to see local people competing at that level.
Posted by Watcher | 24.02.10, 19:44 GMT
There are no losers at the Olympics!
Why did BT choose to show a picture of Jenna down on the ice? Surely they could have shown a more flattering picture of her.
Why do people take a perverse pleasure in someone failing? N.I. should be proud of her. After all she spent about 10 years preparing for this event.
How many of the naysayers spent even 10 minutes preparing for anything?
Posted by Fred D. | 24.02.10, 19:02 GMT
Fred, no harm to you big lad but you dont half go on!
Posted by D Man | 24.02.10, 17:44 GMT
Jenna I am soo so proud of you. You have done amazing to get there. Remember all your frends love you soomuch and you will always do us proud babe :) xxxxx
Posted by Sarah | 24.02.10, 17:04 GMT
Fred I'm glad you emigrated to Canada and not the US as my Scotch-Irish ancestors did a couple of centuries ago. Rambling about tribal based politics at such a time. To quote Doc in Westside Story, "You make this world lousy"!
Posted by Chris M | 24.02.10, 16:30 GMT
Bad luck Jenna, don't pay any attention to anyone who says it's rubbish to finish 29th in the WORLD in ice skating when you come from a place with a population of 1.6million and rubbish skating facilities. Of course the mighty power house of Norn should only be supporting athletes who are going to win medals! Um, really? Come on folks, talk about negative attitude, the girl is a SIX times British champion at 23 years old!! I trust those who are being critical hold up so well to their own incredibly lofty standards.
Posted by Graham Smyth | 24.02.10, 16:20 GMT
Not to worry, Jenna. Just to be at the Olympics as a world-class elite athlete is a major accomplishment of its own. And besides, Joannie Rochette, the Canadian skater whose mother died on Sunday, is goign to take gold for Canada!
Posted by Eoin Kenny | 24.02.10, 16:10 GMT
Fair play to her, I say. It's not like her skills were on par with Eddie the Eagle so why so negative Jim?
Posted by Ulysses32 | 24.02.10, 16:08 GMT
Poor Jenna - you did very well, considering stupid Coleraine closed its skating rink (one of their classic short-sighted decisions), causing you to have to trail up to Dundonald every day to practice. Chin up - there'll be other chances, you're young enough yet!
Posted by donegore | 24.02.10, 14:36 GMT
How many people can say they have competed at the Olympic games?
Not so fast, Joe, Jim and Fred.
Better luck next time, Jenna.
Posted by Richard | 24.02.10, 14:32 GMT
A heartbreaker for sure. As a Canadian with Belfast ties, I suggest all athletes who compete should be lauded. Public funding for sport is not wasted money we must get more people off the couch and active. Thank you Jenna for coming to Canada and taking part. I wish you success in the future.
Posted by John | 24.02.10, 14:16 GMT
its awful for people to leave such negative comments. jenna im sure workd very hard for this for it to ripped from her. we as a country should be proud she got this far!
Posted by kels | 24.02.10, 13:58 GMT
I wish any one the very best in non-political sports from NI. Pitty she didnt get a bit further. Wish her all the best in the future.
Posted by Mad House | 24.02.10, 13:53 GMT
It's still early days kiddda, don't give up! If at first you don't succeed etc
Posted by T J McClean | 24.02.10, 13:40 GMT
Yeah Mary Peters said on the tea time news yesterday that she probably will not win anyway, What a thing say I am sure her parents were delighted hearing that.
Posted by joe | 24.02.10, 12:28 GMT
21 Comments