Plushenko
wins
third World title
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Evgeni
Plushenko wins Gold at World Championships
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March
25, 2004
Evgeni
Plushenko gave MCE two Gold Medals in two days when
he defended his World Championship at Dortmund, Germany,
Thursday.
Plushenko
collected his third overall World Championship Gold
Medal and also added four more 6.0s for presentation
for his free skate performed to a tribute to ballet
master Vaslav Nijinsky.
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| Johnny
Weir |
Plushenko
also got 10 5.9s from the 14 judges for technical
merit and presentation.
Another
skating first Plushenko can claim is the first triple
Axel-half loop-triple flip ever completed cleanly
in a major competition.
“Finally,
I pulled myself together and did two quads. I did
my Axel-loop-flip. The third wold title is great,
and I thank destiny,” Plushenko said.
Johnny
Weir, the U.S. National Champion participating in
his first World Championships, skated a clean program
and finished as the highest American in fifth place.
He also helped the U.S. secure three positions in
the 2005 World Championships.
Plushenko’s
program was the most technically difficult and best
performed. He nailed both quad attempts, an opening
quad-triple-double combination and a solo quad moments
later.
Weir
didn’t attempt a quad but he skated an exquisite
program that included eight solid triples.
Weir
said, “My goals are working on quads and the
quad flip. I want to medal next year.”
Totmianina
& Marinin
win first World title
March
24, 2004
Tatiana
Totmianina and Maxim Marinin won their first World
Championship by holding off the Chinese pair of Xue
Shen and Hongbo Zhao in the pairs final at Dortmund,
Germany, Wednesday.
Totmianina
and Marinin received a 6.0 for presentation and their
two solid programs in the short and long proved why
it takes two well-executed programs to win Gold.
Totmianina
and Marinin skated an outstanding performance to Marton’s
“Art of Ice”.
“We
are so happy to have won our first World title,”
Totmianina said. “It was altogether a very tough
competition. The level was very high. It was very
hard for us to skate after we heard that (Qing) Pang
and (Jian) Tong had received such high marks. We assumed
they skated clean, and we knew we couldn’t afford
any mistake.”
The
Russians didn't succumb to the pressure and collected
the first World Gold for their country since Maria
Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov won gold in 2000.
“At
the beginning, we smiled at each other and communicated
with our eyes. Then we focused on ourselves. It was
our lucky day, we used our chance,” Marinin said.
Totmianina
and Marinin already have two Silver Medals in their
previous World Championships.
Plushenko
first after
short program; Weir
moves up after strong skate
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| Evgeni
Plushenko |
Johnny
Weir |
March
23, 2004
Evgeni
Plushenko of Russia won the short program Tuesday
at the World Figure Skating Championships in Dortmund,
Germany, with his high-energy performance.
Plushenko,
who won the World title in 2001 and 2003, is in position
to bring home a third title.
His
short program, skated to tango and flamenco music,
included a quadruple-triple toe loop combination and
two other triples. Plushenko’s marks ranged from
5.7 to 5.9 for required elements and 5.8 to 5.9 for
presentation.
“I
felt good on the ice, everything was fine and as it
should be,” Plushenko said. “I think everything
will be fine."
Alexei Mishin, his coach, also was pleased: “I
think he did his job in the short program today. He
did all the elements.”
U.S.
National Champion Johnny Weir improved his standing
with a solid short program after not having his best
skate in the qualifying round.
Weir,
19, hit all his required elements in the short program,
including four triples. He finished in fourth place
in the short program, finding it it better to skate
later in the day after his morning qualifications.
"Much
better," Weir said. "Late night definitely
works better than morning. I was comfortable with
everything I was doing and I had a really good time."
His
triple lutz-triple toe loop was smooth, and his overall
program was elegant. His change-foot sit spin was
one of the best of the night.
Brian
Joubert of France was second to Plushenko. Stefan
Lindemann of Germany was third.
Totmianina
& Marinin lead
at Worlds; Plushenko wins
qualifying round
Tatiana
Totmianina & Maxim Marinin of Russia captured
the lead in the pairs short program Monday at the
World Championships in Dortmund, Germany. Evgeni Plushenko
won his qualifying round.
Performing
to “Variations on a Theme of Paganini” by
Sergei Rachmaninov, the two-time World Silver Medalists
skated well to a program that featured a throw triple
loop, a side by side triple toeloop, a double twist
and a one-armed lift. The couple received marks ranging
from 5.7 to 5.9 for required elements and from 5.8
to one 6.0 for presentation.
“I
don’t really know where I am and what time it
is. We just arrived two days ago, and we aren’t
over the jet lag yet, Totmianina said. “Usually
we skate in the first group in the warm up. Today,
I think it helped us to skate late, because we were
able to sleep during the day." They were the
last to skate.
The
6.0 was the first of their career. “This is our
first 6.0 ever! It’s wonderful. I always dreamed
about getting a 6.0 before the new judging system
will be adopted,” Totmianina said.
Totmianina
& Marinin said they have been working hard on
the artistry and the 6.0 was a great result for them.
Their
coach, Oleg Vasiliev said: "I don't think they
realize yet how important this 6.0 is because when
we convert to the new system there will be no more
6.0s, and I am so happy that they were able to experience
what it is like to see that perfect score after skating."
Their
teammates Maria Petrova & Alexei Tikhonov are
in second place. China's Qing Pang & JianTong
are in third at their first World Championship and
the defending champions Xue Shen & Hongbo of China
are in fourth place.
In
the Men's qualifying round. defending champion Plushenko
is ahead of teammate Ilia Klimkin and Stefan Lindemann
of Germany.
Plushenko
gave a strong performance to “St. Petersburg
300”. The two-time World Champion completed a
quadruple-triple toeloop combination, a triple Axel,
a triple Axel-triple toeloop combination as well as
three more triple jumps and fast spins. His only mistake
came when he doubled a Salchow.
He
earned marks from 5.8 to 5.9 for both technical
merit and presentation.
“This
was a good performance, and everything is going according
to plan. Now I have to relax and then attack tomorrow
full force. This was just the beginning, and the battle
goes on”, Plushenko said.
U.S.
National Champion Johnny Weir finished 7th in his
qualifying round.
MCE
skaters ready
for World Championships
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| Evgeni
Plushenko |
Johnny
Weir |
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| Irina
Slutskaya |
Elena
Sokolova |
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| Fumie
Suguri |
Tatiana
Totmianina & Maxim Marinin |
March
21, 2004
Competition begins
this week in Germany
MCE
skaters are in Dortmund, Germany this week competing
in the 2004 World Championships. Vying for medals
will be Evgeni Plushenko, Irina Sluytskaya, Johnny
Weir, Fumie Suguri, Elena Sokolova and Tatiana Totmianina
& Maxim Marinin.
Plushenko,
the defending World Champion, is fighting a knee injury
but still won the Russian National Championship this
year. Weir, who won the 2004 U.S. National title,
is making his first appearance at Worlds.
Suguri
enters Worlds as the 2003 Grand Prix Final champion.
Slutskaya, who has seen little action this skating
season because of illness, will compete for the first
time this year. Sokolova, who won the Silver Medal
at Worlds in 2003, is looking for a spot on the podium.
Totmianina & Marinin, who won the Russian and European Championships this season and the Silver Medal at last year's World Championships, are favorites for a medal this year.
Qualifying for the men begins Monday.
The men's short program will be Tuesday at 6:24 p.m. with the men's free skate Thursday at 6:24 p.m.
The ladies short program will be Friday at 12:54 p.m. and the free skate Saturday at 12:54 p.m.
The
pairs short program will be Monday at 7:10 p.m. and
the free skate Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
Competition
schedule
(All times Dortmund local time)
Tuesday,
March 23
1 p.m. — Compulsory Dance
6:30 p.m. — Men's Short Program
Wednesday,
March 24
10 a.m. — Ladies Qualifying Rounds A/B
6:30 p.m. — Pairs Free Skate
Thursday,
March 25
1 p.m. — Original Dance
6:30 p.m. — Men's Free Skate
Friday,
March 26
1 p.m. — Ladies Short Program
6:30 p.m. — Free Dance
Saturday,
March 27
1 p.m. — Ladies Free Skate
Sunday,
March 28
2:15 p.m. — Exhibition Gala
Television Schedule
| Event |
Date |
Time |
Network |
| Men's Short and Pairs Short Program |
March 25 |
7-9 p.m. |
ESPN2 |
| Men's Free Skate and Pairs Free Skate |
March 25 |
9-11 p.m. |
ABC |
| Men's Short and Pairs Short Program (Repeat) |
March 27 |
4:30-6 p.m. |
ESPN |
| Ladies Short Program and Original Dance |
March 27 |
6-8 p.m. |
ESPN |
| Ladies Free and Free Dance |
March 27 |
8-11 p.m. |
ABC |
| Ladies Short Program and Original Dance |
March 28 |
12:30-2:30 p. |
ESPN2 |
| World Championships Exhibition |
April 3 |
4-6 p.m. |
ABC |
| Men's Free Skate |
April 3 |
9-11 p.m. |
ESPN |
| Ladies Free and Free Dance |
April 4 |
9-11:30 p.m. |
ESPN |
| World Championships Exhibition (Repeat) |
April 10 |
4:30-6:30 p.m. |
ESPN |
| Times listed are EST |
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