Kurt Browning sees big Olympic medal haul for Canada on Sochi figure skating ice

Kurt Browning is pretty excited about heading to Russia, and not because he loves cabbage rolls. The upcoming Winter Games will mark the former figure skating champion's first appearance as an Olympic TV analyst.

While Browning has plenty of experience as a figure skating analyst for CBC, this will be something new for him. He calls the opportunity "awesome."

"It's just such a great chance for somebody who was a skater - is a skater still, I guess - and is a fan of my sport to be there," the four-time world champion said on the eve of the Canadian figure skating championships. "I love how my sport reaches out to people with the music and story lines, the glory of standing up for three or four minutes of tough, arduous, gravity-defying skating and all the stuff that goes with it. To play this role and do the best job I can is amazing."

But it's not just the thought of working an event that he used to compete in that has his pistons firing. It's also the prospect of some great Canadian performances expected in Sochi.

Though final spots are still up for grabs at this weekend's nationals, Canada will be sending one of its strongest teams ever to Russia. Browning sees multiple medals coming back in Canadian luggage.

First off, there's Patrick Chan. The reigning world champion is in a great position to claim gold.

"Patrick is in a great place right now," said Browning. "We're good friends and I'm getting a lot of positive feedback from him. He's happy where he is. He's in an even better place than I could have dreamed three years ago. He's been through it and is ready."

By "being through it," Browning means the 2010 Vancouver Games, where a 19-year-old Chan succumbed to nerves and placed a disappointing fifth.

"He was kind of a baby in Vancouver," Browning said. "It was his first time in the big end of the pool. He's come out of that much stronger."

But there is one speed bump in Chan's path. That's Japan's Yuzuru Hanyu, who could throw a monkey wrench into the proceedings, especially with his mastery of quads.

"It's coming down to a two-guy fight if you're just looking at stats," Browning said. "Hanyu is dangerous. I thought he was extremely dangerous the first time I ever saw him. When he's on, he can fight Patrick on his best day."

"But if Patrick skates his very best, he's just more powerful and has the momentum of three world titles in a row. Patrick at his best can beat Yuzu at his best, but Yuzu has the three quads that Patrick doesn't have. It's going to be exciting."

Canada also has a great shot at gold in the dance pairs, with Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir looking to defend their Olympic title. But they go into Sochi as the underdogs behind the American duo of Meryl Davis and Charlie White.

Browning believes the Canadians might be peaking at the right time.

"They have closed the gap with the Americans over the last year and a half, just in time for the Olympics," he said.

As for the pairs, Browning sees a good medal possibility for Canada -- but most likely a bronze. The reigning world champions from Russia, Tatyana Volosozhar and Maksim Trankov, are too strong, he says. The German pairing of Aliona Savchenko and Rob Szolkowy are also formidable.

"It would take something like the Germans having a terrible Olympics for both Canadian teams to get on the podium," Browning said. "The pairs gold is Russia unless they have a terrible attack of nerves."

Canada's best hope lies with Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford, he said. They've looked stronger and more consistent than Kirsten Moore-Towers and Dylan Moscovitch. In addition, Browning noted, they're the only team doing a triple

and that gives them a big advantage.

"They have a bit more momentum," he said. "They were on the podium at the worlds last year.

"The last time I saw them in practice they were skating on auto pilot. They were fantastic."

Moore-Towers and Moscovitch have the ability to knock them off at Sochi, Browning said. "But they need to set that precedent at the Canadians before they go to the Olympics."

Browning doesn't see any medal hopes in the ladies event, partly because South Korea's Kim Yuna and Japan's Mao Asada are so dominant. This is an Olympics where Canada can gain experience.

"They're not there yet," he said. "We just don't have anybody who's had enough traction internationally. Kaetlyn Osmond has to earn her spot at Canadians. Since winning Skate Canada, she hasn't even come close to that pinnacle for all kinds of reasons. She needs a good Canadians and get back on track."