Sochi Winter Olympics: Aussie skater Brendan Kerry stumbles out of contention

“Pain is only temporary,” is the motto chosen by 19-year-old Australian figure skater Brendan Kerry, who will devoutly hope that’s the case because he will take away painful memories of his first Olympics.

It was his Olympic debut – though not his family’s, his mother Monica MacDonald represented Australia in the ice dance in 1988 in Calgary.

Heartbreak ... Brendan Kerry of Australia reacts after stumbling during his routine in the men's short program figure skating competition at the Iceberg Skating Palace.Credit: AP Photo

After skating onto the ice for the men's figure skating in the same group as Olympic legend Evgeny Plyushchenko (“that was amazing,” Kerry said. “I was paranoid. I didn’t want to get in his way”), he was pushed up the schedule after the Russian’s withdrawal.

Kerry said it did not faze him. But something did. From the start of his routine, to the tune of Metallica’s ‘Nothing Else Matters’, he became sure that he wouldn’t land his jumps. He was playing mind games with himself. And sure enough when the first jump came along he stumbled. And after the next. And the next.

By the end of his routine his disappointment was etched on his face.

He only needed to stay out of the bottom five to get through to the free skating final on Friday evening, but it was not to be.

“Practice has been terrible since getting here. I was distracted looking at the cameras and the people,” he said afterwards. “I’ve skated well pretty much all year and this was terrible.”

He says he is going back to basics, and the junior and senior world championships, with the next Olympics a long four years away.

He wants to work with a sports psychologist – “I’ve been taking everything for granted lately and been letting the pressure get to me,” he says.

But at least he can take away one thing. He shared the ice with Plyushchenko.