Saturday, December 15, 2001
Italians looking up at Bourne, Kraatz
By ROB BRODIE -- Ottawa Sun
KITCHENER -- Maybe there's hope for ice dance after all.
Canadians Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz stand second after two segments of the ice dance event at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating at Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.
That they're behind 2000 world champions Marina Anissina and Gwendal Peizerat of France is hardly a surprise. That Bourne and Kraatz beat reigning world champions Barbara Fusar-Poli and Maurizio Margaglio of Italy not once, but twice yesterday ... now that's news of almost staggering proportions.
The Italians actually find themselves fourth heading into tonight's second free dance, worth 50% of the final score. The judges made them pay for a Margaglio fall in the original dance, and a less-than-stellar effort in the evening free dance. Not exactly a minor development in itself.
"(Yesterday) shows it's an improvement," said Bourne, 25, of Chatham. "It's getting better and people will be happy to see that ... It's being judged more the way you see it."
Bourne had a stumble of her own during a footwork segment of their March With Me free dance. But all in all, it was a solid day for the Canadians, and this event is looking more and more like a positive building block toward the Olympics in February.
What will it take for Bourne and Kraatz to finally win an Olympic medal in their third try?
"The skating has to be so great that they can't say no to it ... it has to be amazing," said Bourne.
GETTING A LEG UP:
In a preview of what should be the battle for Salt Lake gold, Evgeny Plushenko leads fellow Russian Alexei Yagudin heading into tonight's men's free skate final. American Tim Goebel is third. Plushenko is competing on a tender left ankle he injured attempting a quad toe loop during a practice Thursday. "It's been a long day and a long fight," said Plushenko, 19.
SLUTSKAYA LEADS:
After a night of mistake-filled skating, Russia's Irina Slutskaya leads the ladies' event. World champ Michelle Kwan of the U.S. ranks second, just ahead of Maria Butyrskaya of Russia.
2002 Games Figure Skating Coverage
