|
|
|
|
2007 Cup of China - Figure Skating HighlightsLadies Long, Free Dance, and Men's LongNov 10, 2007
The Cup of China concluded with the Ladies Long Program, the Free Dance (FD), and the Men's Long Program. Ladies (Long Program)Yu-Na Kim of South Korea won the ladies event by a over a whopping 24 points. It should also be noted that of all 12 competitors, only Kim received no deductions for her long program. USA's Caroline Zhang maintained second place overall to win the silver, while Carolina Kostner of Italy slipped from first to third place overall, settling for bronze. Kim opened her routine with a spectacular triple flip-triple toeloop combination, followed by a triple loop, a triple Lutz-double toeloop-double loop combination, and a double Axel-triple toeloop combination. The only flaw came when the 17-year-old popped a Lutz, but she otherwise landed a triple Salchow and a double Axel. The 2006-07 Grand Prix Final champion was also awarded a level four on a flying combination spin that received +GoEs from all but one judge. "I was nervous after my mistake in the short program," said Kim. "I had one day to prepare and I mostly tried to focus on my program. I am glad that I was able to come back today and to win." The South Korean champion, who was third after the short program, earned a new personal best of 122.36 points for her routine to music from the Miss Saigon soundtrack, easily placing first in the long and overall with a total of 180.68 points. The South Korean, who lives in Canada is coached by Brian Orser, added that she wasn't completely satisfied with the presentation of her program yet. "I will work a lot on [it] for my next competition," said Kim. As with many of the other ladies, the "edge monster" was on Zhang's shoulder when she took the ice, and the U.S. junior silver medalist was penalized for using the wrong take-off edge on both of her triple Lutzes - one of which she underrotated and fell on. Zhang also underrotated and fell on a triple flip, but otherwise landed a triple flip-triple toeloop combination, and a triple loop-double toeloop-double loop combination. Despite the errors, the current World Junior champion skated a lyrical program to Ave Maria which also featured a gorgeous level four layback spin and a very good level four combination spin. Zhang earned 97.58 points, placing second in the long and overall with a total score of 156.34 points. The 14-year-old later told the press that she was only happy with the first part of her performance. "he second half was not as good," said Zhang. "I could have done better." Fumie Suguri of Japan, who was in 11th place after the short, fought back in the long program, earning 92.37 points for a third place finish. With a total score of 137.13 points, the 26-year-old, who trains in Moscow under Alexander Zhulin, catapulted into fourth place overall. The 2006 World silver medalist, who received a deduction for a time violation, was also penalized for the wrong use of edge on her two triple Lutzes - one of which was downgraded to a double, but otherwise produced a triple toeloop-double Axel sequence, a triple flip-double toeloop combination, and a double Axel. Kostner, who was in first after the short program, placed fourth in the long with 83.04 points. With a total score of 143.86, the European champion slipped to third overall. The Italian champion suffered from a multitude of jump problems: a fall on a triple flip, underrotating and falling on the second jump of a double Axel-triple toeloop combination, and doubling a triple Lutz and triple flip. The only two triples landed were a Salchow and a loop. The 2007 Nebelhorn Trophy champion appeared to lack focus and drive after the second fall, resulting in two flawed spins, but was awarded positive GoEs for her level two straightline footwork sequence. Julia Sebestyen of Hungary placed fifth in the long (81.14 points) and overall (136.60 points). The defending champion fell on a triple Lutz and a triple flip (which was also "edge" penalized). The 26-year-old also doubled a Salchow and singled an Axel in a combination jump, but landed a triple Lutz-double toeloop-double loop combination and a triple flip. USA's Beatrisa Liang finished in sixth place overall (127.42 points). The 19-year-old fell on a triple Lutz, a triple flip, and a triple toeloop. Liang was also penalized for using the wrong take-off edge on both of her triple Lutzes. Susanna Pöykiö of Finland slipped from sixth to eighth place overall after placing ninth in the long program. China's Dan Fang placed seventh in the long and overall. Kim picked up 15 points for her win at this event, and competes in two weeks at Cup of Russia. Zhang, who earned 11 points at Skate America, added 13 more from this event for a total of 24. Kostner (11 points) will compete later this month at NHK Trophy. Ice Dance (Free Dance)USA's Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto upset Russia's Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin, who had been holding onto first place throughout the competition, winning the gold by a 14 point gap. "Whatever result came through, most importantly we were very pleased with the progress that our free dance has made in just one week at home between our first Grand Prix at Skate America and this one," said Belbin. Italy's Federica Faiella and Massimo Scali held onto third place, winning their second consecutive grand prix bronze this season. Performing to selections of music by Chopin, Belbin and Agosto opened with a beautiful serpentine lift with Belbin in a catch-foot position, followed by synchronized twizzles, and a very good circular step sequence. The U.S. champions went on to produce four more lifts and a good midline step sequence. All eight of their elements were awarded a level four, and the team placed first in the free dance with 98.41 points. With a total score of 195.11, the Americans edged out the Russians to win first place overall. "I think that this free dance has a lot of potential," shared Belbin. "Hopefully now we can raise the original dance and compulsory dances to match it. But hopefully we'll have many more performances like this." Faiella and Scali put out a solid free dance to selections of music from the Yentl soundtrack which featured four level four rotational lifts, a level four midline step sequence, a difficult level three serpentine step sequence, and synchronized twizzles. The Italian champions placed second in the free dance (90.62 points) and third overall with 181.10 points. "We did a great job," commented Scali. "Not just today, but in all the [dances]. We felt very confident. We had a little mistake at Skate America, but today everything was good, and we're especially happy about our second place in the free dance." Skating to Waltz from Masquerade, Domnina and Shabalin opened with good synchronized twizzles, followed by a level two midline step sequence with twizzles, a curve lift, and a curve-rotational combination lift. During a spin, however, Shabalin accidentally lifted his partner off the ice which resulted in the spin being scored as a level one stationary lift. As a result, their final level four reverse rotation lift was not counted, and the Russian champions received a one point deduction for an extra element. "Oksana wobbled in the spin and I held her tighter," explained an upset Shabalin. "I didn't even notice that her feet left the ice. We just had changed the entry into the spin and it had been going very well." Domnina knew immediately that they had made a mistake and wouldn't get credit for the final lift. "An error like this happened in practice before, but never in competition," said Domnina. "We are quite upset about it. We were able to give the best on the first two days of the competition, but today we just couldn't pull ourselves together." The defending champions placed third in the free dance with 87.69 points, and with a total score of 188.66, slipped to second place overall. Israel's Alexandra Zaretski and Roman Zaretski delivered a good dance which featured four level four lifts and synchronized twizzles, but the brother-and-sister team received a deduction for an extended lift. They finished fourth in the FD (78.79 points) and overall (161.86 points). Ukrainians Anna Zadorozhniuk and Sergei Verbillo placed fifth in the free dance with 75.63 points, maintaining sixth place overall with a total score of 150.18 points. Sinead Kerr and John Kerr of Great Britain received a deduction for an extra element when they performed a second curve lift (not scored). They placed sixth in the FD, but with a total score of 152.99, maintained fifth place overall. Xintong Huang and Xun Zheng of China finished seventh. With two Grand Prix wins under their belts, Belbin and Agosto have qualified for the Grand Prix Final next month in Italy Domnina and Shabalin, who earned 13 points, will in two weeks in their home country at Cup of Russia. Faiella and Scali, who had 11 points from Skate America, now have a total of 22 points. Men (Long Program)USA's Johnny Weir edged out teammate Evan Lysacek for the gold medal by just over two points, while Stephane Lambiel of Switzerland settled for bronze. Performing to Love is War by Yoav Goren, Weir opened with a classic triple Axel-triple toeloop, followed by an equally good triple Axel, a triple Lutz, a double Axel, and a triple Salchow. The U.S. bronze medalist also produced four more triple jumps, two level four spins, and a strong level two straightline footwork sequence. Weir earned a new personal best of 151.98 points for first place in the long and overall with a total of 231.78 points. The 23-year-old was very happy with his performance, citing that his new training regimen was paying off. "It is the first time in a long time that I felt really comfortable on the ice," said Weir. I am just so happy to be back on top." Lysacek, who was in first after the short, placed second in the long with 147.81 points. With a total score of 229.36, the overnight leader slipped to second overall. The defending champion fell on his opening quadruple toeloop before underrotating and struggling with the landing of a triple Axel in his Tosca routine. He quickly recovered, however, landing a total of seven triple jumps which included a triple Axel-triple toeloop combination and a triple flip-triple toeloop combination. "Today obviously was not my best," said Lysacek."It's hard to start off with a fall, but t if there is one thing that I am proud of, it's the fact that I tried the quad." The U.S. champion also delivered a very good circular and straightline footwork sequence, and all of his final spins were awarded a level four. It wasn't a "jump" night for Lambiel, who fell on two quadruple toeloop attempts and a triple flip in his routine to Poeta by Vicente Amigo. The Swiss champion otherwise landed three triple jumps and a double Axel. The current World bronze medalist was disappointed about his performance. "I couldn't feel my body today," said Lambiel. "It was not my day." Despite the jump problem, the 22-year-old displayed two very good level four spins, as well as a solid straightline footwork sequence, earning 122.02 points for third place in the long and overall (192.22 points). Russia's Alexander Uspenski also encountered jump problems, stepping out of a quadruple toeloop, a triple Axel, a triple Lutz, and a triple loop. Nevertheless, the 20-year-old landed three clean triple jumps - two in combination with double jumps, and delivered two level three spins, earning 119.04 points for a fourth place finish in the long. With a total score of 179.94, the Russian moved up sixth to fifth place overall. Jamal Othman of Switzerland, who stood in ninth after the short, placed fifth in the long and eighth overall. The 21-year-old landed a total of five triple jumps - three of which were in combination with double jumps. Sergei Davydov of Belarus placed eighth in the long, but with a total score of 181.75 points, managed to hold onto fourth place overall. Karl Zelenka of Italy placed seventh in the long, moving up to sixth place overall, while Canada's Shawn Sawyer placed 10th in the long and slipped to seventh overall. Weir (15 points) and Lambiel (11 points) will both compete in two weeks at Cup of Russia. Lysacek earned 13 points at this event, qualifying for the Grand Prix Final with a total of 26 points. |
||||||
