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Browning hopes his influence pays off for Joubert

Source: Globe and Mail
Date: March 21, 2007
Author: Beverley Smith
TOKYO - It seemed an interesting meeting of the minds when four-time world champion Kurt Browning spent a week with young French star Brian Joubert last summer.

"We hardly knew each other,'' said Browning after watching Joubert win the mens' short program at the world figure skating championships on Wednesday. "He had never seen me skate until he showed up.

"You mean you've never seen me skate live?'' queried Browning, who won world titles in 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1993. Joubert would have been nine years old when Browning won his final title.

Much to Browning's disbelief, Joubert replied: "No, I never see you skate at all.''

"What are you doing in my living room?'' Browning thought. "You know nothing about me.''

"When I interview with you in Calgary [at the 2006 world championships, where Browning was a TV commentator], you seem nice,'' Joubert replied simply.

"Okay, let's go,'' Browning said. Browning designed the choreography for one of Joubert's programs.

The incident summed up Joubert perfectly, Browning said. "He's very calm and it's not a big deal. He doesn't work more into the batter than is already there.''

"He steps on the ice without a lot of clutter,'' Browning said. "He's an athlete who wants to win. So we need to make him a little more versatile as a figure skater. He's a hell of an athlete.''

Browning told Joubert that he considered him the king of the jumpers right now, unless Olympic champion Evgeny Plushenko comes back from his wanderings, seeking public office in Russia.

Joubert's current competitors aren't likely to be able to improve to Joubert's level in the jumping department, Browning advised him. But if Joubert could improve his non-jumping elements, he could leave the competition behind.

"In the next three years, you're going to improve,'' Browning said. "But those other guys? They're not going to get a whole lot better. They might get hurt. You're in a good place. You should work hard on that second mark, start risking a few things, take some dance classes, I don't know.''

In one week, Browning said he could not improve Joubert, but hopefully he could influence him.

Browning helped Joubert in another way. Last summer, Joubert was short of money because "he was having trouble with his federation.''

Browning paid for a couple of days for a hotel room in Toronto, and then invited him to stay at his home. He also paid for the music editing .

"He was fun and he's a good kid and I wish him all the best,'' Browning said.

"Last year when he was second, I thought, next year he will probably win. We'll see.''