Athlete: Émile Baz

Age: 26

From: Laval, QC

Rock The Rink performance: November 14 at Place Bell in Laval

1.    How long have you been figure skating?
21 years

2.    How long have you been involved with Special Olympics?
Since I start competing around 16 years or more !!

3.    What other sports do you play?
I go to the gym and do some yoga to help me with my flexibility. I don’t do other sports, but I am artistic, I am an actor and I play guitar, I sing and I draw.

4.    What is the biggest figure skating competition/performance you’ve done to date?
Special Olympics World Winter Games Austria 2017.

5.    What was your reaction when you found out you’d be performing at Rock the Rink?
So proud and so happy that they appreciate that I won at the World Games and that I brought home a gold medal.

6.    How are you preparing for this performance?
I practice every single day during the summer for four hours daily. I love solos and I love to perform at shows, I feel happy and proud.

7.    Who is your favourite figure skater(s)?
Every champion.

8.    What do you love about skating?
I feel happy and proud that people can see that I am talented.

9.    Tell me about the routine you’ll be performing at Rock the Rink?
Performing my new solo Spanish music.

10.    What do you like about Special Olympics? How has it changed your life?
It made me more happy and more proud. Being a world champion is amazing.

11.    What would you like to say to Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir for inviting you to perform alongside them?
I am so happy that they can feel and appreciate all my efforts that I put to achieve all that in figure skating and I am happy that they know that there is also champions with special needs. Thank you for all that!

12.    After Rock the Rink, what’s next? 
After that I am going to the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in Thunder Bay, Ontario. I am competing in a higher level at the National Games, because after I won the Worlds I had to compete on a higher level. I am practicing a lot and I want to bring home a gold medal. 

To support athletes like Émile, text SPORT to 20222 to donate $10 to Special Olympics Canada.