Beijing and Bust My 2022 Journey with Vincent Zhou BY TOM ZAKRAJSEK MFP, CP, CG
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es, as you might have imagined, it did feel like everything had busted apart when I left Beijing after the men’s individual event three months ago. I was numb as I boarded a jumbo jet with only Tracy Wilson, Brian Orser, and four other passengers who were snowboarders from Team USA. We were spaced far apart being served by flight attendants in hazmat suits, Air China’s COVID protocol. After arriving in Tokyo, I sat in the United lounge and Tracy and Brian did their best to comfort me during our layover. I am sure they could tell I was in shock. Two-time Olympian Vincent Zhou (’18 and ’22) was in quarantine because he had tested positive for COVID-19 eight hours after the men’s team event long program. His dreams for an Olympic individual medal were squelched. After a hard, long cry and being consoled by team manager Mitch Moyer, and team leaders Deveny Deck and Kathleen Cutone, as well as Dr. Kristin Abbott and Dr. Caroline Silby, I was still trying to figure out how everything he had worked so hard for—and I had worked so hard for---ended just like that. Like a light switch being turned off. After nine
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consecutive days of negative tests, including one right prior to the team event coupled with very strict COVID protocols established by the Chinese government to keep COVID out of the closed loop bubble, how could this be our reality? A gut punch like no other followed by a feeling of extreme emptiness. It was like a phantom limb. The opportunity felt like it was still there, but it wasn’t. The seven stages of grief as documented by Iris Lin and Nhi Huynh would follow in the month leading up to the World Championships in France and even though Vincent, myself, and Drew Meekins were aware of them impacting our thoughts and decisions—heck our everyday lives, it didn’t help very much at all. Mie Hamada, whom we consulted with on a weekly basis, offered consistent support to me. Every time we FaceTimed, she kept saying, “You are doing a good job.” Her words offered much needed reassurance because I really felt like I had no idea what my job was anymore. Eleven months prior, the devastation of Vincent missing the short program cut at the 2021 World
Championships in Sweden had created a renewed approach to his Olympic season with the pandemic seeming to ease and training returning to normal. Everything Vincent did on and off the ice had been coordinated to produce spectacular on ice training witnessed by all of the skaters, coaches, and employees in the Broadmoor World Arena Ice Hall, as well as those who saw Vincent compete in his early events: Broadmoor Open and Cranberry Cup. He was not only returning to form but he was better than ever. Likewise, his win at Nebelhorn Trophy in September, where he secured the three men’s Olympic spots that he had put in jeopardy added to a momentum that culminated in Vincent winning his first Grand Prix medal and first GP gold medal at Skate America in Las Vegas one month later. By then the figure skating media were talking about a possible individual Olympic medal for Vincent. That made sense since he previously won bronze at Worlds
