Elvis Stojko will probably agree that you'll never find him sitting
in a rocking chair, even when he far surpasses his current age of 31.
But now the three-time world figure skating champion has decided to
go back a few years in the other direction and try his luck again at
the sport he dominated not so long ago. On Wednesday, Elvis told
reporters he's doing it for himself and not for external reasons.

"This is something I've wanted to feel for like four or five years,
[since] the pre-1998 season. And that's what I feel, and I'm ready to
go do that now, regardless of age or whatever," he says, having noted
that the physical injuries which plagued him in recent years are now
a thing of the past.

The recurring question with Elvis, right or wrong, is about that
pesky Olympic gold medal that's evaded him – so far. "Everyone keeps
asking me about [it] … If it was only that, I would have went for it
more in '02," he says.

Meanwhile, Stojko's legions of fans across Canada are no doubt glad
he's decided to come back, just as glad perhaps as his new coach
Linda Bridge. "It's a feel good story," she says. "It's wonderful,
it's good for everyone … especially Canada."

To see unedited video of Stojko, click here.
http://www.pulse24.com/In_The_Raw/Raw_Video/page.asp#elvis






April 30, 2003




----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------

Why Elvis Stojko can't hang 'em up
May. 1, 2003. 12:02 PM
At 31, he admits his comeback is `spooky,' but he's just following
his heart
Randy Starkman
SPORTS REPORTER

Elvis Stojko is steamed.

He is near the end of his third on-ice practice yesterday and despite
his best efforts he just can't nail the timing on his triple axel,
the bread-and-butter jump of any top-flight figure skater.

The television cameras, microphones, tape recorders and notepads have
long been packed away. The first official media scrum of his comeback
following a year's absence from competitive figure skating ended more
than an hour before at the arena in Richmond Hill that bears his name.

"Elvis isn't in the building; Elvis is the building," cries manic
Citytv sportscaster John Gallagher in a set-up for his report.

For Stojko, it's back to the unglamorous business of rebuilding his
technique.

The three-time world champion hits the ice on one jump. On another,
he looks like he's about to pull the triple axel off but steps out of
the landing and groans. He pops out of another attempt and kicks at
the ice.

Finally, recognizing he's just too tired, he changes his approach,
deciding instead to do a series of triple loops to help trigger the
timing he needs to get ready for quadruple jumps again. This is
something he hasn't done in more than seven months.

The old spark returns at this point, as Stojko reels off triple loop
after triple loop, each one getting higher, including one that comes
after he has to weave his way through three younger skaters before
executing the move down by the goal crease. He pumps his fists in
celebration.

There is no question Stojko is serious about this comeback. He has
already set his sights on competing in his fifth Winter Olympics, in
2006 in Turin, Italy. But there's also no denying it looked like his
best days were well behind him when he retired after finishing eighth
at the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics and, at age 31, he's a decade older
than reigning world champion Evgeny Plushenko of Russia. There's
never been a skater capture a top figure skating honour at Stojko's
age.

"No one's ventured this far yet so who's to say that it's not
possible," he said. "Part of it is kind of spooky because I'm the
only one doing it so far, but to me I feel it. I follow what my
heart's telling me and go with it."

His new coach, Linda Bridge of the Richmond Hill Skating Club, is
working with him to bring out qualities he hasn't shown for a long
time and will show the fans and judges "a more dynamic, well-rounded
individual on the ice." Stojko has long been pigeonholed as a one-
trick pony, a great technician whose proficiency to nail his jumps
and skate cleanly earned him the nickname "The Terminator."

His short program will feature tribal music with drums to demonstrate
his vaunted power but will contain a pan flute section to display his
calmness within. The long program, to music from the movie The Count
of Monte Cristo, will have a more sophisticated and softer theme than
Stojko has used in the past.

"I'm not reinventing Elvis Stojko but I'm going to bring out some
more stuff that's been sort of dormant there for a little while," he
said.

Bridge, who coaches junior champ Ken Rose and has known Stojko for
years, is a believer.

"He's our most decorated Canadian athlete that should be comfortable
with his place in our sport and move on," she said. "But he's not
done. He's got new business."

It's easy to be skeptical about Stojko's comeback and to place him in
that category of athletes who just didn't know when to stay retired.

But this is an athlete whose inner resources are what always set him
apart. And it is the return of that drive that is fuelling this
comeback. He says it has nothing to do with gold medals, accolades or
anything external.

That drive is in evidence this day. After more than three hours of
practice, Stojko is still out there. The other skaters have left.
It's just him, the Zamboni, and Bridge on the ice, his ever-dedicated
mother Irene manning the video camera.

As the Zamboni goes about its business, Stojko is working on his
spins. He's whirling so fast, it looks like he's going to start
corkscrewing through the ice.

There are hockey players performing at the peak of their craft well
into their 30s. How about a figure skater?

"I'm looking like there's no limits," said Stojko. "I'm just going
for it."

> From singerskates@...

Thought you might be interested in this article.
Why Elvis Stojko can't hang'em up.


Why Elvis Stojko can't hang 'em up

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Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1051643352751&call_page=WM_Home&call_pageid=9\
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Sun May  4 15:14:03 2003


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The following tsn.ca article has been sent to you by singerskates@...
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Elvis welcome back in the rink. We've missed you!

Brigitte
--------------------------------------------------------------------

ELVIS LOOKS FORWARD TO COMPETING AGAIN
--------------------------------------
Canadian Press - 4/30/2003 1:16:24 PM
RICHMOND HILL, Ont. (CP) - Elvis Stojko says he is returning to competitive
figure skating because he hasn't reached his full potential.

And the former three-time world champion says he has not ruled out competing at
the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy.

"I just started trying triple Axels again. I haven't done them in four or five
months, they feel great," he told reporters Wednesday.

"I've got no injuries. My body's healthy, my mind's healthy. I'm ready to go."

His new coach is Linda Bridge, who has been coaching Canadian junior champion
Ken Rose.

Stojko, 31, announced his retirement on March 12, 2002, and was named to the
Skate Canada Hall of Fame last June.

Most recently he has been touring the United States as a member of the Champions
On Ice cast.

He won world titles in 1994, 1995 and 1997, and he also won Olympic silver in
1994 and 1998.

After missing most of the 2000-2001 season with injuries and finishing 10th at
the world championships, he went to the Salt Lake City Olympics and finished a
disappointing eighth. It was generally perceived that he could no longer keep up
with younger skaters such as Alexei Yagudin and Evgeni Plushenko, who have
dominated the top of the world podium since Stojko stopped winning.

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Elvis is dating a dancer now. First Kurt dated a dancer and then
married her and now Elvis is sort of following Kurt in life. Wonder
if the dancer and Elvis will actually marry some day. I heard this
from Elvis' lips on a TV interview he did in December or was it
January? It was with his Sk8 With Elvis broadcast I think? Not sure
for sure when but Elvis said it himself. Hope he gets married soon.

Brigitte

Hey everyone

i am new, my name is Shanti, i'm 19. I am a huge Elvis fan, his
skating inspired me to start skating. I was reading past post on this
board and i didn't even known that Elvis was dating anyone. Is the
Keyla, everyone is talking about, Keyal Ohs, a past Canadian women
single skater? just wondering

You guys should also check out this Elvis board, its pretty good

http://www.network54.com/Forum/14321

Bye for now
Shanti

I'm not interested in skating really, but I have
to admit that I really like Elvis Stojko and his
great attitude. Actually I was just watching some
skating program on TV and that Emanuel Sandhu guy was
strutting around drinking a late' and acting like some kind
of gay-assed version of John Barrymore or something,
screw that! I like Elvis because he's just a regular
dude + imo you can't win anything eating suchi and
drinking late'... Be a regular guy like Elvis and eat some
french fries with gravy! ;)

This would be ideal for those who are into the
Olympics. Anyone interested in winning an all expense paid
trip to see the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake
City, Utah., and/or weekly cash prizes at
<a href=http://www.attwireless.com/xplore
target=new>http://www.attwireless.com/xplore</a> ! Then you might be interested
in the street
teams I am putting together for the Olympic games. The
objective is to get the word out that the Olympics are
almost here and the many contests/prizes connected with
the winter games. Anyone can be part of the action
simply check out
<a href=http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xploreyourdreams
target=new>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xploreyourdreams</a> for more
information. I have plenty of Olympic
goods to give my team members, so join the Xplore Your
Dreams campaign right now!

Well I told him that but he said he found no such souvenirs in Montreal :(

Keyla is Elvis Stojko's girlfriend. I heard they
are not together but that is not confirmed. She was a
figure skater now a model/actress. She is now working in
Aston, at Ice Works coaching. That is also were Elvis is
training with his coach Uschi Kezler. Does that Help? If
there is any sovenir that your brother should get you,
tell him Magazines, photos, and books on Elvis Stojko.
Is that to much? Those are great sovenirs!

Singer replied that message sayin he's datin a skater from vancouver ! I
apologise for the misunderstanding

Oh come on guys :> GOd damn it ! There was a
time when I was the only one talkin in this club and
now, I login after 20 years and I find out about this
Keyla Person :> Like, who the heck is her? If you'll
scroll back a few messages you'll see a message I posted
a long time ago : Is Elvis dating somebody? lol
There was no answer called Keyla whatsoever :> So,
I'm askin, please answer, Who's this Keyla character?
awwww may :((( Is she the one who gets to get up next
to him every mornin and kiss his sweet sweet lips?
heh<br>P.S. my brother left for canada like 2-3 weeks ago and
he's stayin in Montreal. He asked me what gifts can he
bring me from there and I went like : " D'oh !!! Elvis
Stojko things !!!! " and he said that he didn't find any
Elvis Stojko merchandise around there ! Could someone
tell me why is that? I wish someone could answer as
soon as possible cause he's coming back in the country
next monday :&lt;&gt;<br> Thank you kindly<br>
Liz<br>P.S.2 Is there somethin in particular I should ask him
to bring me from Canada? DO you have a special
souvenir that It's a must for me to have it?

Thank you so much for your help. I wish them all my best as well. What kind of
commerical was Keyla in?  Did Elvis do the commerical with the love of his life?

I would say that they are still together because she is coaching at Ice Works in
Philidelphia and she starred in a commercial! I wish them the best of luck

I read this on the Elvis Discussion Board.
<br><br><br>Keyla - slightly OT<br>September 30 2001 at 11:20 PM
Kitty Kins (login KittyKins)<br>from IP address
216.26.223.186
<br><br>------------------------------------------------------------------------\
--------<br> <br>Just wondering if anyone knows what Keyla is
doing now-a-days. Is she still competing in amateur? I
wish Elvis and she were "a number". She is awfully
sweet and is an animal lover.<br><br>I wish Elvis and
she were "a number". This sentence was a bit
confusing for me to understand but I am thinking they are
not together anymore. <br>Can you confirm this?

What board did you hear this?  What was the URL for the message that you read?

I read somewhere in a message board that Keyla and Elvis are no longer together?
Can anyone confirm this?

With Robin Williams and Edward Norten in Danny
DeVito's Black Comedy DEATH TO
SMOOCHY!!<br><a href=http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/deathtosmoochy
target=new>http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/deathtosmoochy</a><br>Come and see Pics
(as They come out).<br>And
Information on Elvis's charactor.

Hi,all!<br>I'm a new member of this club. I adore
Elvis<br>Stojko,beside him I like Marina Anissina & Gwendal<br>Peizerat.
I admire Elvis Stojko,because he is so<br>wonderful
on the ice and he has his own style,<br>different
than other skaters. And he's the
best!!!<br>sunny_sunlight

Yes, I'm alive.  Just trying to find a job. Someone said somehting about Elvis
at the Goodwill Games, but thats it.  I don't suppose you know what grand prix
he's going to be at?<br><br>Amanda

Come people let find something to talk about. How is everyone? How did you all
get intrested in skating?

Sorry but there's no knews other than he is
toying with the idea of competing at the Goodwill Games
in Sept. Other than that mum is the word. Plus, I
have a day job. I'm busy with my own figure skating
club, off-ice training, on ice training, rehersing
music for playing at my church's youth summer camp and
stuff around the house, not including doing many web
sites. so lately, you are lucky to see me in here.

Once any championship is over this club freakin
DIES !!!!!!!!!!!!! :(((((((( Don't you people
understand that Elvis Stojko is the king of ice? Did you
join this club just to brag during the
championships>? Elvis Presley was the king of rock and roll,
right? People are still talkin about him though he's
freakin dead ! They still adore him, they still talk
about how great he was and they always find new things
to say about the king ! THey always chat ( i'm a
member of several Elvis Presley clubs ) ! You folks just
adore him when he wins or when he appears on Tv and
does a nice job ! THat's not the way to do it ! I
adore him and i hate it that i can't see him everyday !
I have in my room 20 wall papers with him ! It
looks like some kind of a place to praise the king of
ice ! And i hate the thing that, Wall papers are all
i have ! I don't live in Canada as some of you do !
If i'd be living there i wouldn't miss any chance to
see him and... And i'd brag every day about it
praising the moment i met him ! MAybe i'm just a freak
cause i'm addicted to him like he'd be the greatest
person in the world though i never met him ! So, ok, I'm
nuts but what about you people? This club is my only
connection to Him ! I'm waitin for you folks to give me some
news and you - - nothin ! Maybe this club should go
down ! No-one talks in it anyways ! <br> Lizzy

I really don't understand how could a man like
Elvis could be still single ! i really don't ! He's the
best ! ( maybe he's gay :PPP *grin* ) or maybe he's
waitin for me ( or one of us ) to catch him someday and
force him to marry us ! :)))) i'm tellin y'all, he
can't be single ! <br> by the way, i still don't get it
why he's not married ! the woman who would marry him
would be the luckiest woman in the whole wide world !
You don't have the chance to catch such a king
everyday ! Actually i think it happens once in 50 years if
not more ! The king of rock'n'roll died so there's
only one king left :) and he should marry before i
turn 18 ( i'm 17 and a half now ) otherwise i'll feel
obligated to go to Canada and kidnap him :PPPPPP<br> Long
Live the King for he is the man we love ! <br> Love
you Elvis honey<br> Peace y'all !<br> Lizzy

I have heard that he is still single.

He was seen on CNN this morning promoting the COI Tour. Watch for Elvis and the
rest of the cast to come to your city if you live in one of the US' major
cities.

Elvis is dating another skater from the Vancouver area but is married to the ice
and his blades.

Does anyone know if Elvis is still single to this day?

OK, I ran it but I have been so busy with Windsor
Figure Skating Club and my own skating that I haven't
been there alot and I haven't updated my Elvis Stojko
site in a long long time. I've come here now and then
but I haven't been there too much. I just barely have
time to catch up on email, update my FSC's site,
workout at the gym, take care of the family and skate.
I'm getting ready to compete in Thornhill, ON April
19th, 2001.

Does anyone use the Fans of the Man Chat Room on Beseen?If you do what times do
you chat on est.time