Emanuel Sandhu

Emanuel Sandhu (born November 18, 1980) is a Canadian figure skater and dancer. He is the 2004 Grand Prix Final champion and a three-time Canadian national champion.

Emanuel Sandhu
Emanuel Sandhu competing at the 2004 Worlds.
Personal information
Country representedCanada
Born (1980-11-18) November 18, 1980
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
ResidenceBurnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
CoachJoanne McLeod
ChoreographerJoanne McLeod
Skating clubB.C. Centre of Excellence
ISU personal best scores
Combined total228.29
2004 GP Final
Short program78.41
2006 Worlds
Free skate152.74
2004 GP Final

Personal life

Sandhu was born on November 18, 1980 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[1] He was raised in Richmond Hill, Ontario with his younger brothers Chris and Daniel. His father, Lokraj, is Indian Sikh and his mother, Enza, was born in Italy.[2] He is fluent in English, French, and Italian. Sandhu dabbles in modeling and singing.

Career

Skating

Sandhu began figure skating at the age of eight. A year later, he was discovered by coach Joanne McLeod who would serve as his coach for his entire career. Sandhu later relocated to Burnaby, British Columbia to continue training at the B.C. Centre of Excellence with McLeod, whom he credited as being his biggest support system.

He had early success in Canada, placing second in his first Canadian nationals.[3] Sandhu's success qualified him for the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, but the Canadian Olympic committee refused to send him because, while he met the criteria of the Canadian Figure Skating Association, he did not meet theirs. He had missed the Grand Prix season because of injury while Langdon did not.[4] Sandhu was a recipient of the Indo-Canadian Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998.[1]

Sandhu qualified for the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, but was forced to withdraw before the short program due to injury. He also withdrew from the World Championships that year. Sandhu's father had left the family years earlier, and Sandhu was reunited with him prior to the 2002 Olympic Games. Sandhu stated that he was almost relieved to have to withdraw with an injury, because it was difficult dealing with his father's return.

Sandhu was the Canadian Nationals Champion in 2001, 2003 and 2004, and he won the Grand Prix Final in 2004, his most successful season. In winning the Grand Prix Final, Sandhu beat reigning World Champion Evgeni Plushenko and is one of only two people (with Brian Joubert) to beat Plushenko in the 2002-2006 quadrennium. This win was even more notable because Sandhu was a substitute, not having medaled at his Grand Prix events that season. Sandhu went on to win his third Canadian title and to take the silver medal at the 2004 Four Continents, his highest placement at the event.

Despite his various victories, Sandhu was inconsistent at major events. He kept his eligibility following the 2006 Olympics season. He competed at Cup of China, where he won the bronze medal, and Cup of Russia, where he placed fifth. At the 2007 Nationals, he was unable to hold onto silver and dropped to third, his lowest placement at the senior level at Nationals. His season continued its downward trend as he placed ninth at the 2007 Four Continents. He placed 16th at the 2007 Worlds.

Sandhu making his comeback at the 2013 Canadian Figure Skating Championships

In 2011, Sandhu performed in the Art on Ice show in China.[5] He also registered to compete in a qualifying competition for the 2012 Canadian Nationals, his first competition since 2007.[6] He withdrew because of a foot injury and lack of preparation time due to ice shows.[7][8]

Sandhu returned to competition in December 2012 at the 2013 Skate Canada Challenge; he finished fifth, which qualified him for the 2013 Canadian Nationals.[9][10] Commenting on his decision to return to competition, Sandhu said, "I don't want the feeling I have when I look back on the sport to be one that isn't full of joy, happiness and satisfaction. I probably would think about it the rest of my life if I didn't try."[11][12] He trained without a coach in Burnaby, British Columbia.[13] Sandhu went on to finish 9th in the short program[13] and 11th overall at the 2013 Canadian Nationals.[14]

Dance

Sandhu began studying ballet at the age of three and continued to dance until the end of high school. He graduated from The National Ballet School of Canada.

In May 2008, Sandhu auditioned for So You Think You Can Dance Canada in Vancouver, British Columbia, and qualified for the final audition round in Toronto. He succeeded past all but the final round of auditions and was cut when selections were made for the show's Top 20.

Sandhu again auditioned during the second season of So You Think You Can Dance Canada, but this time made it into the Top 20. He finished in the Top 6 as the third-ranked male dancer.

Programs
Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2012–13
[13]
    2006–07
    [1]
    • Pantera en Liberta
      by Monica Naranjo
    • Mambo
      by Wanyne
    • When Strangers Meet
      by Sharov, Jiping
    • Legends
      by Chun Yi
    • Tabla Beat Science
      by Tala Matrix
    2005–06
    [15]
    • Original composition
      by Gordon Cobb
    2004–05
    [2][16]
    • Rise
      by Safri Duo
    • Xotica
      by Rene Dupere
    • Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-Minor
      by Emil von Sauer
    2003–04
    [17]
    2002–03
    [18]
    • Crazy Benny
      by Safri Duo
    2001–02
    [19]
    • A-Gusta
    • Crazy
    • Played-A-Live
      by Safri Duo
    • Piano Concerto 1
      by Edward Grieg
    • Lamento d'Ariane
      by Jules Massenet
    • Piano Concerto 1 in C for Orchestra
      by Herbert Howells
    2000–01
    [20]
    • The Freedom Rider
      by A. Blakey
    • Back to the Apple
      by C. Basie
    • Journey of Man
      by Cirque de Soleil Orchestra
    1998–2000
    1997–98
    [3]
    • Serenade for Strings
      by Pyotr Tchaikovsky

    Competitive highlights

    GP: Grand Prix; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

    International[21]
    Event 97–98 98–99 99–00 00–01 01–02 02–03 03–04 04–05 05–06 06–07 12–13
    OlympicsWD13th
    Worlds29th18th9th8th8th7th5th16th
    Four Continents10th13th7th5th2nd9th
    GP Final1st4th5th
    GP Cup of China5th1st3rd
    GP Cup of Russia5th
    GP Lalique/Bompard3rd9th3rd
    GP NHK Trophy6th
    GP Skate America4th6th
    GP Skate Canada5th2nd4th1st1st
    GP Sparkassen8th6th
    Goodwill Games8th
    Nebelhorn Trophy6th
    Top Jump2nd
    Sears Open5th2nd
    International: Junior[21]
    Junior Worlds11th
    JGP France4th
    National[22]
    Canadian Champ.2nd2nd2nd1st2nd1st1st2nd2nd3rd11th
    WD: Withdrew

    References
    1. "Emanuel SANDHU: 2006/2007". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on August 11, 2007.
    2. Mittan, Barry (January 16, 2005). "Sandhu Looking for Fourth Title". Skate Today.
    3. Mittan, J. Barry (1998). "Sandhu Combines Athleticism and Artistry". Archived from the original on May 14, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
    4. Malhotra, Ramesh (February 11, 2006). "NRI Sandhu, Skater made critical mistakes in his performance". NRI.
    5. Wang, Fannie X.F. (December 1, 2011). "Emanuel Sandhu: "There's beauty in ugly and beauty in darkness."". Absolute Skating. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
    6. Kwong, PJ (November 8, 2011). "Sandhu making comeback". CBC Sports. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
    7. "Foot injury puts Sandhu's comeback on hold". CBC Sports. November 11, 2011. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
    8. "Emanuel Sandhu Withdraws". Skate Canada British Columbia/Yukon. November 10, 2011. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
    9. Slater, Craig (December 10, 2012). "Sandhu hot on comeback trail". Leader-Post.
    10. "2013 Skate Canada Challenge Men's Results" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-12-24. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
    11. Ewing, Lori (January 17, 2013). "Emanuel Sandhu's comeback is about rediscovering joy of figure skating". The Canadian Press. Global News. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
    12. Pyette, Ryan (January 17, 2013). "Emanuel Sandhu makes a comeback bid". QMI Agency. Toronto Sun.
    13. Ewing, Lori (January 18, 2013). "Comeback Trail: Emanuel Sandhu finishes ninth in men's short program". The Canadian Press. Leader Post. Archived from the original on January 19, 2013.
    14. Elfman, Lois (January 19, 2013). "Chan finds comfort zone in winning sixth in a row". IceNetwork.com.
    15. "Emanuel SANDHU: 2005/2006". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on July 2, 2006.
    16. "Emanuel SANDHU: 2004/2005". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 5, 2005.
    17. "Emanuel SANDHU: 2003/2004". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 3, 2004.
    18. "Emanuel SANDHU: 2002/2003". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 15, 2003.
    19. "Emanuel SANDHU: 2001/2002". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 2, 2002.
    20. "Emanuel SANDHU: 2000/2001". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 17, 2001.
    21. "Competition Results: Emanuel SANDHU". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.
    22. "Emanuel Sandhu". Skate Canada. Archived from the original on November 7, 2007.
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