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Kurt Browning is busier now that he isn't skating
Source: |
Toronto Sun |
Date: |
May 6, 2006 |
Author: |
Bill Lankhof |
Except from a multi-topic article:
BUSY BODIES
Canadian figure skater Kurt Browning became the first to land a
quadruple jump during a competition in 1988. In between then and now,
he has been a four-time Canadian champion, a four-time world champion,
seen his picture on cereal boxes and jam labels and been voted the
country's greatest athlete.
Next month, he turns 40. You'd think a guy might want to slow
down.
"I tried to think of another year since I became world champion that's
been this busy and I couldn't come up with one," Browning said this
week in a telephone interview from Winnipeg. "Since October, I've been
away almost the whole time."
He spent time flying between Toronto and Hollywood to do Skating With
Celebrities and worked as a skating commentator for ESPN and
ABC.
Winnipeg this week. Vancouver tomorrow. His Stars On Ice tour has
taken him to "50 or 60 cities" this winter and sometimes, he admits,
he has to check the hotel nightstand to remember where he is.
"I hate when they do an interview and someone says: 'You're coming to
Wichita Saturday. Where are you today?' And I'm scrumming around the
room going: 'Uh, I'm in, uh, Nok-A-Tooks. Yeah, that's it.' I have no
idea sometimes."
Just five more shows and Browning can return to Toronto to be with his
wife, Sonia Rodriguez, a principal dancer with the National Ballet,
and their 21/2-year-old son, Gabriel.
"We're going to do a book together on dancing," Browning said.
What, you thought they'd sit and watch the tulips?
The dance book is a follow-up to A Is For Axel, his childrens alphabet
book on figure skating. Apparently, it's a big success. And, golly,
isn't that a surprise.
"I hadn't heard how it was doing, but I talked to the publisher last
week and they said they're planning a reprint. So, that's good. If
they tell you: 'Thanks for coming out. Your feeble cheque is in the
mail,' that's not good."
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