And standing on the podium, as the national anthem played, his proud coach, Keegan Murphy, said he recalled all the sacrifices Wesley and the Connaught Skating Team had made since the start of the pandemic to give the rising star the best chance possible at the highest level.
“Our goal was 200 points and he got 199.9, so, that’s pretty close,” laughed Murphy, adding that 200 would normally be enough to challenge for a gold medal.
“We didn’t pick a result goal, as the result is often out of our hands with the judging.
“I wasn’t sure (if Wesley had won). I knew it was going to be a close first or a close second.
“It was a very special feeling (to see Wesley on the podium), as I’ve been teaching him since he was seven.
“There were a lot of very difficult situations over the last 18 months with COVID, so it was very validating to see him on that podium, knowing all the sacrifices and wise decisions we made to keep Wesley healthy and engaged.”
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