Keegan MESSING

LATE ARRIVAL
Was delayed in getting to Beijing and missed the team event as he waited for the necessary negative COVID-19 test results. (nationalpost.com, 04 Feb 2022)

SWITCHING TEAMS
Represented the United States until 2014. Finished fourth at the 2014 World Junior Championships, twice won the International Cup of Nice champion (2011, 2012) and was bronze medallist at the 2012 Nebelhorn Trophy.

Always planned to compete for Canada, but the logistics made it easier to initially skate for the United States. At age 14, he landed a triple Axel at the US Novice Championships, and making the US team headed to an event in Italy. That competition tied him to the USA competitively and he was required to take a two-year break from skating internationally to be eligible to skate for Canada.

"So not knowing the rules, we got caught in a little bit of a trap at the very start. But I can't be more proud to wear the Maple Leaf, this is always where I wanted to be, and I don't think I'd be where I am today without Canada. They have supported me from the start, and they have given me room to grow." (globeandmail.com, 16 Feb 2018)

Was also inspired to compete for Canada when his grandmother told him that there had not been a Canadian Olympic champion in men’s singles and knowing he had dual citizenship, he could pursue this. (keeganmessing.com)

PERSONAL COACH
Coach Ralph Burghart represented Austria in men’s singles at the Albertville 1992 Olympic Winter Games (18th), at five World Championships (1988-1992), and seven European Championships (1985, 1987-1992).

COVID-19
Took the time during the lockdown to reflect on the loss of his brother in 2019, his skating career, and what lies ahead in his future. His rink in Anchorage closed in March 2020, so he spent a lot of time hiking in the backcountry in the mountains.

FAMILY TRAGEDY
His brother Paxon passed away three weeks before 2019 Skate America where he skated an emotional tribute to his brother by including his framed picture in one of his performances and skating to “Here I Am” by Bryan Adams, with tears streaming down his face. He received special support during the following months from Canadian figure skaters Nam Nguyen and Piper Gilles, his wife Lane, and a childhood friend.

"It was something I really felt I needed to do. It felt like a weight off my chest. It was a goodbye in my own words, though no words were spoken." (IFS Magazine.com, 29 Aug 2020, dailymail.co.uk, 21 Oct 2019; adn.com, 1 Nov 2019)

RESPECT AND SPORTSMANSHIP
During the awards ceremony at the 2019 Autumn Classic International in Canada (where he won the bronze medal), when he realised the Japanese flag behind the gold medallist Yuzuru Hanyu was hanging flat and not noticeable, he lifted the flag up as the Japanese national anthem started playing. Hanyu stepped off the podium and gave respect to his country’s flag and then bowed to Messing after the anthem ended. The Canadian broadcaster reported, "Keegan Messing might be the most beloved person in Japan right now." (cbc.ca, 15 Sep 2019)

HERITAGE
His heritage is Japanese. His maternal great-grandfather, Manzo Nagano, was Canada's first Japanese immigrant, and arrived in Victoria, BC in 1877 aboard a British steamer. In 1977, 100 years later, Mount Manzo Nagano, a mountain peak, was named after his grandfather in a remote area of northern British Columbia. (globeandmail.com, 16 Feb 2018)

SKATING CHARACTERS
Has a passion for showmanship and never runs out of characters to play on ice, channelling Charlie Chaplin, Gene Kelly and the Incredible Hulk in the past. (adn.com, 1 Nov 2019)

© Data by Sports Data Warehouse

PYEONGCHANG 2018 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
Though representing Canada, he was Alaska's first figure skater to compete at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. (adn.com, 1 Nov 2019)

Gardena Spring Trophy 2007 (International junior debut - Single skating - 6th, for USA).