Sunday, December 16, 2001
Sale, Pelletier a Love Story
By ROB BRODIE -- Ottawa Sun
KITCHENER -- Love Story was a winning story last night.
But will Jamie Sale and David Pelletier give it a chance to be golden in Salt Lake City?
For the record, the world pairs champions from Canada still aren't saying which free program they'll take to the Olympic Games in February. But last night's passionate performance during the ISU's Grand Prix final certainly gave the duo a compelling argument to tell their Love Story on the biggest stage of all.
It was more than enough to top Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze, the two-time world champs from Russia, for the $50,000 US first prize. The Russians collected $40,000 for second, while Chinese Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao got $30,000 for third.
Sale called it the couple's best skating performance since they joined forces in the summer of 1998.
"We can't be any more content that that," said Sale, 24, of Red Deer, Alta. "I felt so perfect tonight."
TWO PERFECT SCORES
Two judges thought so, giving Sale and Pelletier perfect 6.0 scores for presentation. There were plenty of 5.9s all over the board, too. While it might seem like the clinching argument for them to choose Love Story over the Orchid free program they skated Friday night, the decision won't come just yet.
"You never take a decision when you're too high or too low," said Pelletier, 27, of Sayabec, Que. "We'll let the dust settle, forget the sixes, forget the way we skated so our minds are even when we make the decision."
Expect that verdict to come early next week.
YAGUDIN TOPS MEN
In the men's competition, Alexei Yagudin landed two quads and five clean triples to beat Russian rival Evgeni Plushenko for the top prize. Tim Goebel of the U.S. wound up third.
"I was very emotional when I found out I won," said Yagudin. "Plushenko was first for so long and I have been waiting for this."
In women's singles, Irina Slutskaya of Russia won the gold, American Michelle Kwan was second and American Sarah Hughes was third.
2002 Games Figure Skating Coverage
