At Skate America in October of 2002, everyone assumed reigning Olympic champion Alexei Yagudin would easily walk away with the gold medal. Yagudin, however, was struggling with a severe hip injury and withdrew after the short program and ended his Olympic-eligible career. Virtual unknown French skater Brian Joubert won the event with strong skating and boy next door charm.

The medal ceremonies ran late and the press conference was somewhat scattered. Brian sat alone at the table in front of a microphone as a roomful of reporters looked on. Phil Hersh, veteran journalist for the Chicago Tribune, is fluent in French and offered to help translate. He asked the first question, translated himself, then Brian answered in French and Phil translated into English. The next reporter asked a question, Phil translated. After a few more rounds of this, Brian interrupted and in perfect English said, "Excuse me, but I speak English" and then blushed.

That's when I snapped the above photo.

Canon Elan II body, Canon 80-200/2.8 lens, Fuji Press 800 film. Exposure unrecorded. Canon 200EX Speedlight.