10 Reasons You Should Cheer For Tugba Karademir At The Vancouver Olympics

Now that friends and family know that I am cheering for and supporting a 48 year old freestyle skier from Argentina, a 45 year old skeleton racer from Japan and an Ethiopian cross country skier (not to mention a women's skeleton racer from New Zealand even though she unfortunately failed to qualify) at the upcoming Vancouver Winter Olympics, they take me a little more seriously when I explain that I'm also supporting an ice skater from Turkey. Here are 10 reasons why you should consider cheering for Tugba Karademir at the Vancouver Olympic games:

10. She had an opportunity to make if financially easier on herself and family, but decided that representing her home country was more important.



9. It's always more fun to cheer for the underdog.

8. The smile



7. She has her sights set on a top ten finish which she believes is possible if she performs 2 clean routines.

6. How many other ice skaters are also studying for an honours degree in Biotechnology?

5. It's much more fun to be a trend setter than a trend follower.

4. Talent beyond figure skating.

3. While other ice skaters are treated like rock stars, she's happy to try and teach her country more about the sport of figure skating.

2. How can you not support an ice skater that claims she's happier on the ice than anywhere else?

And the number one reason that you should be rooting for Tugba Karademir at the Vancouver Olympics is:

1. Just watch

Tugba Karademir Comments on Her Jumps

Here are the comments from Tugba Karademir on her jumps during the Free Program at the 2010 European Figure Skating Championships:

I didn't have big mental problems. I went for all my jumps, but I didn't land them well. I left about 20 points on the table because of poor landings and lost combinations. All in all, it is a good experience before the Olympics, and it is better that it happened now. I still have a month to prepare. It is worse for other competitors who skate at the Four Continents Championships as they have only two weeks.

For the Olympic games, Canada is almost my home country. It is familiar and I feel comfortable there. Last time (in 2006) I didn't feel as if I belonged as I was a surprise entry. Now I know that I belong with the best and I feel better mentally.

These comments were left by her parents on Tugba's English Facebook fan page

Tugba Karademir 2010 European Figure Skating Championship Free Program Video

Tugba Karademir Finishes 12th in European Championships

At the end of the free program Tugba Karademir finished in 12th place in the European Figure Skating Championships with a total of 82.54 points.

Tugba said that she believed she represented Turkey the best that she could. Her next destination is Vancouver for the Olympics where she hopes to place well. Tugba received a score of 35.74 for technical merit, and a score of 46.80 for artistic merit for a total of 82.54 points and a 12th place finish.

Translated from NTV Sports