Skater Patrick Chan credits his Asian heritage for his will to win
Canadian figure skater credits his family link to the city as he bids to leave his mark in Sochi
Three-time world champion Patrick Chan will bid to become the first Canadian man to stand on top of the men's figure skating podium in Sochi.
The son of Hong Kong emigrants who settled in Canada, Chan grew up in Toronto speaking French, Cantonese and English, and admits he is a skater whose iron will has been forged by his Asian heritage.
His mother, Karen, emigrated from Hong Kong to Canada at the age of 21 to study. His father, Lewis, now a lawyer in Toronto, arrived from Hong Kong aged five and grew up in Montreal.
Chinese culture is very different, it's unique, you work incessantly. It's a quality that we all have but what's not good is that Chinese parents are very strict, above all with school
"Chinese culture is very different, it's unique, you work incessantly," Chan said. "It's a quality that we all have but what's not good is that Chinese parents are very strict, above all with school.
"Luckily both my parents adore sport, they weren't really strict with my results [at school]. I know Chinese parents who say 'if you don't get an 'A' you won't be allowed to skate'. But for me sport takes priority over school. My parents knew how to balance the Chinese cultural influence and North American."
Since finishing just fifth at his home Olympics in Vancouver, Chan, who is coached by Kathy Johnson in Detroit, has gone on to win the last three world titles, and holds the world record overall and free skate scores.
And nothing would please him more than to become the first Canadian to stand on top of the men's podium in the Iceberg Skating Palace in the southern Russian city six days from now.
The 23-year-old could also become the first skater to win two gold medals at the same Olympics with the new team competition - men, women, pairs and ice dance - being decided tomorrow.