ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2011 - Day 3
The ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2011 continued Friday in Moscow, Russia, with the Ladies Short Program and the Short Dance. 11 000 spectators followed the events in the Megasport Arena.
Yuna Kim (KOR) leads after Ladies Short Program
Yuna Kim of Korea edged out Miki Ando of Japan by less than one point to win the Ladies Short Program. Ksenia Makarova of Russia came third.
Kim put out an intense performance to “Giselle”. The Olympic Champion stumbled on her opening triple Lutz, but hit a triple flip-double toe combination, a double Axel and three level four spins to score 65.91 points. “I have been doing a lot of clean short programs (in practice) and my warm up was perfect, but I was a little nervous. I'm a little disappointed that I didn't do a clean short program today”, Kim said. “I tried to focus on my flip and then I missed the combination (she stepped out of the Lutz). But I was able to switch my combination to the flip, added a double toe to it. The rest of the program wasn't so bad and I'm in first place right now, so I'm pleased about that”, she added.
Ando's elegant routine to “The Mission” featured a triple Lutz-double loop, a triple loop and double Axel. She picked up the same high levels for her spins and footwork as Kim and scored 65.58 points.
“I was really nervous because when I skated as the first of the group, most times something bad happened and before coming out from the ice I remembered that. I skated pretty well even though I am not satisfied with my spins”, Ando commented. “Because of the catastrophe that happened in my home country Japan. I really try to cheer people up with my performances and make them smile, so I feel my first job was done, so I would like to skate cleanly tomorrow”, she continued.
Skating to a Flamenco by Didulja, Makarova landed a triple toe-triple toe combination, a triple loop and double Axel. She posted a seasons best of 61.62 points. I am very pleased with my performance. I just thought that I want to skate like I do every day in St. Petersburg in practice. My jumps were good and there were so many emotions, even more than I thought and the audience was amazing. I am very surprised to sit here with the legends, next to Olympic Champion Yuna Kim. All my hard work paid off. For tomorrow I want to do the same thing and I hope it works out”, the 18-year-old told the post-event press conference.
Alissa Czisny (USA) finished fourth with 61.47 points. She landed a triple Lutz-double toe, but received an edge call for the triple flip. Alena Leonova (RUS) is not far behind at 59.75 points after a clean performance. Three-time European Champion Carolina Kostner (ITA) fell on the triple flip to finish sixth (59.75 points). Defending World Champion Mao Asada (JPN) is currently ranked 7th with 58.66 points. The triple Axel was two-footed and downgraded and she also under rotated the triple flip in her combination.
Virtue/Moir (CAN) take lead in the Short Dance
Tessa Virtue/Scott Moir of Canada took the lead in the Short Dance. Meryl Davis/Charlie White (USA) are less than one point behind in second place and France's Nathalie Pechalat/Fabian Bourzat are sitting in third.
Virtue/Moir produced a romantic Tango and Waltz to “Schenkst beim Tango du mir mein Herz” and “Nights and Days” that was highlighted by a confident Golden Waltz part and smooth steps. The first sequence of the Golden Waltz, the footwork, twizzles and lift merited a level four and the Olympic Champions picked up a seasons best of 74.29 points. Davis/White delivered a dynamic Waltz to “La Boheme” and “La Traviata”. The Olympic silver medalists had a level three on the twizzles as he missed a rotation, but all the other elements were graded a level four. The U.S. Champions set a new seasons best for themselves with 73.76 points.
“It felt great. We are very pleased with our skate tonight. It's been a couple of months since Four Continents, but we did exactly what we wanted to do, go out there, do a strong Waltz, keep the flow. It felt like we got all the key points that we wanted”, Moir said. “It didn't take us long to recover from the shock (at Four Continents). Our first priority was to get Tessa healthy. We scrapped the lift that was giving us problems, once that was gone it was kind of clear sailing from there”, he added. “We sort of decided coming into this that all our technical elements and preparation are sound so we just needed to do our thing and get back to the Tessa and Scott that love to skate and love to compete. That's really working for us here and we feel like we are really well prepared”, Virtue commented.
Pechalat/Bourzat skated last and produced a soft and flowing Waltz to “Dr. Zhivago”. The European Champions earned a level four for all elements but for one sequence of the Golden Waltz and scored a seasons best of 70.97 points. “We have been training in this ice rink the past two years everyday and we use music from „Dr. Zhivago“ which is the true Russian soul for us”, Pechalat noted “Right now I feel liberated and content. I did my job. Tomorrow, we can give everything. We have nothing to lose. I am focused for the free dance that hopefully will bring us a medal”, she explained. “I was focused but not tight. I felt like at the European Championships. I'm excited for the free dance and we are aiming at a podium finish”, Bourzat added.
Maia Shibutani/Alex Shibutani (USA) are sitting in fourth with 66.88 points after a strong performance to “Carousel Waltz”. European silver medalists Ekaterina Bobrova/Dmitri Soloviev (RUS) finished fifth (65.88 points), just 0.37 points ahead of Elena Ilinykh/Nikita Katsalapov (RUS/65.51 points).
