In Patrick ChanB次元官网网址檚 perfect future, heB次元官网网址檚 running a skating school in Vancouver with girlfriend Liz Putnam, the two are living in a million-dollar apartment in the cityB次元官网网址檚 lovely Kitsilano neighbourhood, and heB次元官网网址檚 enjoying a wildly successful career in commercial real estate.

ItB次元官网网址檚 been two months since Chan took one final spin around the competitive rink, but the three-time world champion has barely paused to reflect. HeB次元官网网址檚 loving looking forward.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 just running around town doing what I want to do, and moving on with a huge smile on my face. I feel good and light,B次元官网网址� Chan said, ahead of MondayB次元官网网址檚 retirement announcement.

B次元官网网址淚 had three or four things lined up that I wanted to just learn about, and thatB次元官网网址檚 what IB次元官网网址檓 doing. IB次元官网网址檓 meeting people and picking their brain and understanding what life is like. I donB次元官网网址檛 think I had any sense of that when I was in the competitive world. ItB次元官网网址檚 awesome. IB次元官网网址檓 just a sponge again. IB次元官网网址檓 just absorbing and learning.B次元官网网址�

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The 27-year-old from Toronto, who sat out a season after the 2014 Sochi Olympics, was ninth in menB次元官网网址檚 singles at the Pyeongchang Olympics. But his terrific long program in the team event all but guaranteed Canada gold before dance duo Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir even stepped on the ice.

If heB次元官网网址檇 had any doubts about the comeback, that golden moment erased them.

B次元官网网址淚t would have been easy to be complacent and say B次元官网网址業 donB次元官网网址檛 care, IB次元官网网址檓 just here to support the team and be a part of it,B次元官网网址� and I couldB次元官网网址檝e fallen back and said B次元官网网址業B次元官网网址檒l let Tessa and Scott help me through this.B次元官网网址� I knew that this was my chance to shine and chance to prove I still had something to give.

B次元官网网址淲hen I sat in that kiss-and-cry with my two different coaches right next to me smiling and having the entire team behind me as well, and having them all react to me winning B次元官网网址� gosh that was a better feeling I think than winning individual gold. ItB次元官网网址檚 a huge rush to see all these people that are genuinely smiling, and genuinely cheering, and theyB次元官网网址檙e ecstatic, thatB次元官网网址檚 so cool. To be able to say B次元官网网址業 did it, we did it,B次元官网网址� thatB次元官网网址檚 a very very special feeling.B次元官网网址�

Chan had planned his retirement announcement for Sunday at Flat Rock Cellars in Jordan, Ont. Chan launched his ice wine B次元官网网址淥n IceB次元官网网址� in partnership with Flat Rock in 2015. But the weekendB次元官网网址檚 ice storm forced a rescheduling to Monday in Toronto.

The 10-time Canadian champion considered retiring after his heartbreaking silver-medal performance at the 2014 Sochi Games. And while his return wasnB次元官网网址檛 what heB次元官网网址檇 envisioned, heB次元官网网址檚 glad he came back.

B次元官网网址淚t wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have been fair to end after 2014, because I didnB次元官网网址檛 really have a good understanding of who I was and what my aspirations were and what I wanted from the sport. It just didnB次元官网网址檛 feel fulfilling, skating didnB次元官网网址檛 fulfil me completely.

B次元官网网址淣ow I basically have three highlights to my life: doing shows (like Stars on Ice), getting familiar with the commercial real estate world, which has been a lot of fun, and finally the third dream would be to have the skating rink going and building a skating program,B次元官网网址� Chan said.

B次元官网网址淚 say to myself B次元官网网址楲etB次元官网网址檚 see how everything unfolds one thing at a time B次元官网网址� ThatB次元官网网址檚 a reason why this time around just feels right. It wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have felt right after Sochi.B次元官网网址�

If there are any regrets, itB次元官网网址檚 that he played his cards too early before Sochi. Chan dominated menB次元官网网址檚 skating for three years before those Olympics, and when Chan added two quadruple jumps, the rest of the world followed suit, and eventually took the quad brigade a step further. American Nathan Chen does six quads in his long program.

B次元官网网址淚 hate going backwards, but if there is one regret B次元官网网址� I would have been more strategic about adding the quads to the program, and built it one step at a time,B次元官网网址� Chan said.

Chan will be known for his strength and speed on the ice, but also for artistry and exquisite skating skills that he hopes didnB次元官网网址檛 single him out as a dying breed in the sport.

B次元官网网址淎t the end of the day, the foundation of it all is the joy of skating and the glide and the power, thatB次元官网网址檚 whatB次元官网网址檚 amazing,B次元官网网址� Chan said. B次元官网网址滻 think eventually quads will all look the same, theyB次元官网网址檒l all look like triples. But the one thing that can differentiate a skater and create excitement in the sport is what skaters can bring to the table when it comes to interpretation and how they can match the beautiful glide of skating to music and to a performance.

B次元官网网址淚 want to play a part in making sure people donB次元官网网址檛 forget how important that aspect is.B次元官网网址�

To that end, Chan and his girlfriend, a skating coach and former pairs skater, envision opening a skating school much like the Cricket Club in Toronto, and have already started laying the groundwork.

Lori Ewing, The Canadian Press

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