By Ian Hamilton, The Leader-Post
Mervin Tran has returned to his roots.
Natasha Purich and Mervin Tran of Canada perform in the Paris Free Skating during day two of Trophee Eric Bompard ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2013/2014 at the Palais Omnisports de Bercy on November 16, 2013 in Paris, France. Photograph by: Dean Mouhtaropoulos , Getty Images files
The 23-year-old Regina product spent six seasons representing Japan on the international figure skating circuit, having teamed with Narumi Takahashi in pairs competitions since 2007.
But that duo split up in December of 2012, allowing Tran to once again skate for his home and native land.
“It’s nice to represent your own country and be proud of it,” Tran said from Montreal on Wednesday, two days before he’s to leave for Regina to compete with Natasha Purich in senior pairs at the Skate Canada Challenge at the Co-operators Centre.
“I was very proud to represent Japan. I was grateful for the support they gave us and the opportunity that came along with it. But the pride of representing your own country and your own flag never existed for me.
“As much as I was happy to represent Japan and loved going there, it was never home. I’m from Regina. I grew up being proud to be Canadian.”
Tran started figure skating at age eight and competed in singles competitions. In 2007, a coach from Montreal called Tran’s coach in Regina asking if he knew of someone who could skate pairs and who would be interested in teaming with Takahashi.
Tran decided to take the plunge and – since International Skating Union regulations require only one member of a pairs team to be from the country the partners are representing – he started skating for Japan.
The partners were regular medallists in junior competitions, but the highlight of their time together was a bronze medal in seniors at the 2012 world championships in Nice, France. The following summer, Takahashi suffered an injury that required surgery in October of 2012. As a result, the pair didn’t compete that season.
Tran concentrated on his studies in mechanical engineering at McGill University, but he kept training to stay in shape for the day Takahashi returned.
In December, she visited Tran and their coaches in Montreal and dropped a bombshell: She was leaving the pairing.
Read the full article by Ian Hamilton of the Leader-Post.
