Loena Hendrickx: “I believe that the ability to enjoy what you do is the main secret to success. Kaori Sakamoto greatly inspires me in this regard.”
Translation of Loena Hendrickx’s comments about her performance and leading after the short program at the 2024 World Championships.
original source: sports.ru by Maya Bagriantseva / sporza.be
Loena Hendrickx commented on her victory in the short program at the World Championships. The Belgian figure skater scored 76.98 points.
“Each time I step onto the ice, I start from scratch. Today, it was critical for me to enjoy the skate, and I managed to do that. I believe that the ability to enjoy what you do is the main secret to success.
Kaori Sakamoto greatly inspires me in this regard. We’ve performed a lot together in shows, and I see her serious approach to everything she does, yet she enjoys the routines and truly loves what she does. She is a role model for all of us.
A week before the World Championships, I wasn’t even sure I would be able to perform here. I had severe hip pain and almost didn’t practice. Together with my coaches, we decided to reduce the load as much as possible before going to Montreal so as not to strain my injured leg.
However, this was not easy from a psychological perspective. The World Championships is looming, but you’re not training at your usual pace and not doing program run-throughs. Probably the most difficult thing for me in this competition is that I can do all the elements separately, but they need to be put together in a program. The short program is easier in this regard, but the long program will be harder. But you need to just believe in yourself and gain confidence.
I work with a very good psychologist. If things get tough, I can always talk to her, even every day if needed, and she helps me a lot,” Loena Hendrickx’s comments were conveyed to Sports correspondent Maya Bagrjantseva.
Loena also stated in her interview to Sporza that she didn’t feel pain in her hip during her short program. “I don’t know how this happened. I had a lot of self-confidence. I knew I could do it, even though the preparation had not been top-notch. The adrenaline and the painkillers really helped me through it. Now I do feel it enormously. But in my free skate, I didn’t feel it, which gives much hope for the long program.”
She also shared the the audience was incredible in the arena, “I have already done shows here. The audience was super loud. That also helps you through the entire program. The audience loved me and I loved the audience.”
As for leading after the short program, Loena said, “I think this small medal is already worth a lot. I want to go to the free program with the same feeling and skate with pleasure. And then we’ll see what the outcome will be.”
Related topics: Kaori Sakamoto, Loena Hendrickx, world championship
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