A figure skater in Santiago? Eric Radford’s new role for Team Canada

In his three Olympic appearances across a nearly 20-year career, figure skater Eric Radford can still remember a quiet, impactful moment at Beijing 2022 that has stayed with him to this day.

He was in the Team Canada lounge with Maxime Dufour-Lapointe, the Olympic freestyle skier who was serving as Canada’s athlete service officer (think: mentor and confidante) for the Winter Games, when the two struck up a conversation.

“It was just the two of us in the lounge and we started talking about the more philosophical, spiritual side of sport,” Radford recalled during the IOC International Athletes' Forum earlier this month in an interview with Olympics.com. “And how that all fits into our life, how it shaped us as people. It was a very special and memorable moment.”

So much so that Radford is taking on a similar role for the Canadians at this month’s Pan American Games.

Figure skaters, after all, don’t make it to Santiago, Chile, much otherwise.

“I’m going to be there for [the athletes], whatever they may need,” Radford said of his Pan Ams role. “I really hope that I have the opportunity to maybe have a similar moment, and to offer that same type of insight, perspective and advice that Maxime did for me.”

It’s one of several positions Radford has taken on after he and Vanessa James partnered up for one more Games, Radford having previously skated with Meagan Duhamel. The pairs team won two world titles and helped Canada to team gold in skating at PyeongChang 2018 before going on to win bronze in the pairs event.

But is the 38-year-old mulling another comeback?

“[We would need] a time machine where I could go back in time and be, like, ten years younger,” he laughed, shooing away the suggestion.

Eric Radford: 'I have a totally different perspective' now

While his trip to Santiago will offer new challenges, Radford is used to it: He’s not only on the International Skating Union (ISU)’s athlete commission, but also serves as athlete representative on the ISU Council.

In his day-to-day life, he has turned focus to coaching in the Montreal area, too.

“[I now have] a totally different perspective on the behind-the-scenes of our sport,” he explained. “I’ve realised that as an athlete, my vision of my sport is very linear, and very selfish, as well. There's a wide variety of other aspects, from athletes safeguarding to sustainability to the popularity of the sport itself, you know, that need to be addressed and maintained and taken care of.”

“I've really liked having that bird's eye view and seeing the structure of things and being able to use my athletic experience to offer my perspective on the best way to go about these things.”

Radford was integral in last year’s decision to bring up the minimum age for ISU events from 15 to 17. That rule will go into full effect next season, 2024-25.

"I pose the question: Is a medal worth risking the health of a child or a young athlete?" Radford said during discussion of the rule change, presenting to the ISU Council. “I hope that the long-term implications are the ones that are considered with more weight and importance.”

“I think it will take another year or two to really see how the dust will settle when it comes to that change,” he told Olympics.com. “I think that if you look at the women’s [singles] podium from the World Championships, you see women on the podium. They have a great sense of depth and emotion in their programs.”

Radford said the feedback from the skating community about the change has been positive, while he also hopes the data will show improvement when it comes to “injuries or athlete development” on the ice and, he said, off the ice “the mental health of athletes as well.”

'Big opportunity' awaits Canadians at Worlds

While Radford transitions to the “other side” of figure skating, that has meant taking on coaching as well as diving more into his music, having dabbled as a song composer and musical artist.

“[I’m] trying to enjoy life and maybe put a couple other feelers about other possibilities around what comes next,” he said with a smile.

The international pair skating scene, he said, is an open field at the moment, with “opportunities for skaters that aren’t as well established to have a breakthrough season.”

One of those breakthrough duos from 2022-23 was his fellow Canadian veterans Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps, who captured the French Grand Prix, a Canadian national title and finished fourth at Worlds, just off the podium.

“I’ve trained with Max; he has persevered for such a long time,” Radford said of Deschamps. “They are coming to their own. I get to see how much they improve just day by day. The 2024 World Championships [in Montreal] will be a big opportunity for them.”

On coaching: 'I have found it extremely rewarding'

Joined by over 400 other Olympic athletes, Radford said the Forum “created such a connection with so many different athletes from so many different backgrounds, different sports and countries around the world... [and] we're all kind of in the same boat.”

“I think one of the most important things I learned at this event is different ways and tools to use to create a sense of community in our sport,” he reflected.

Radford will take some of those tools onto the ice, as well, in his new foray as a coach.

“I think because I had so much experience as an athlete, I thought, ‘You know, going into coaching this is going to be kind of really easy,’” he admitted. “But it's a unique skill. And I think that it takes a different type of understanding, a different type of analysis. You have to break things down into different pieces that you just didn't have to as an athlete.”

“I have found it challenging but extremely rewarding, and I think I'm starting to learn more about myself as a coach.”

Radford said he’s been more drawn expression on the ice and basic skating technique versus high-level skills, something he said has been surprising.

Is he a tough coach?

“I guess I think Eric Radford is not a tough coach at all,” he responded. “I think that I just expect the athlete, if they're there [on the ice], it's because they want to be there and they want to work hard. And if an athlete starts to get tired or lazy, then it's just a waste of their own time and my time.”

The experience has made him thankful for the coaches he’s had in the past – as well as more aware of the teaching techniques that they used to get through to him and his partners.

“I used to think about how they were teaching and me what they were saying,” he said. “Now I feel like a lot of it has stuck with me and I feel lucky to have been able to draw from each coach... [even now] if I'm ever struggling or if I'm a little lost and I don't really know how to deal situation, I have those people right there to guide me.”