- Emanuel Sandhu
Infobox Figure skater
title= Emanuel Sandhu
caption= Emanuel Sandhu competing at the 2004World Figure Skating Championships .
country= CAN
dateofbirth= birth date and age|1980|11|18
residence= Burnaby,British Columbia
height= convert|183|cm|ftin|abbr=on
weight=
partner=
coach=Joanne McLeod
choreographer=Joanne McLeod
skating club=B.C. Centre of Excellence
retired =
combined total= 228.29
combined date= 2004 GP Final
SP score= 78.41
SP date= 2006 Worlds
FS score= 152.74
FS date= 2004 GP FinalEmanuel Sandhu (born
November 18 ,1980 ) is a Canadian figure skater. He is a three-time Canadian national champion and the 2004 Grand Prix champion.Biography
Sandhu was born in
Toronto ,Ontario ,Canada and raised inRichmond Hill, Ontario . His mother Enza was born inItaly , and his father Lokraj is aSikh of Indian descentFact|date=April 2008. He began studying ballet at the age of three and figure skating at the age of eight. Despite training as a figure skater, Sandhu continued to dance until the end of high school and graduated from Canada'sNational Ballet School . A year after Sandhu started figure skating, he was discovered by coach Joanne Mcleod who has a background in dance and she has been his coach ever since. Sandhu later relocated toBurnaby, British Columbia to continue training at theB.C. Centre of Excellence with Mcleod, whom he credits as being his biggest support system. Sandhu's ballet training and East Indian/Italian heritage have given him a unique style and look. He is fluent in English, French, and Italian. Sandhu also dabbles in modeling and singing.Sandhu had early success in Canada, placing second in his first Canadian nationals. He has placed on the podium ever since. Sandhu's success qualified for the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, but the Canadian Olympic committee refused to send him. He later 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 has 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 , and2004 , and he won the Grand Prix Final in 2004, his most successful season. In winning the Grand Prix Final, Sandhu beat reigning World ChampionEvgeny Plushenko and is one of only two people (withBrian Joubert ) to beat Plushenko in the last quadrennium. This win was even more amazing 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 theFour Continents Figure Skating Championships , his highest placement there.Despite his various victories, Sandhu has a reputation for choking at high pressure events. He kept his eligibility following the 2006 Olympics season. He competed at
Cup of China , where he won the bronze medal, andCup 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 the2007 Four Continents Championships . He placed 16th at the2007 World Figure Skating Championships .In May 2008, Sandu auditioned for
So You Think You Can Dance Canada in Vancouver, BC 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".Records and Achievements
* Recipient of the Indo-Canadian Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award at age 17.
Programs
Competitive highlights
External links
* [http://www.emanuelsandhu.com Official Site]
* [http://www.skatecanada.ca/en/athletes/national_teams/team_profiles/profile.cfm?strregid=1063117&strcategory=single Skate Canada Profile]
*
* [http://www.lizbellagency.com/models/549.htm Modeling Portfolio]
* [http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/5072003/detail.html NBCOlympics Profile]Persondata
NAME = Sandhu, Emanuel
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = figure skater
DATE OF BIRTH =November 18 ,1980
PLACE OF BIRTH =Toronto
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =
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