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Final Results

Short program

Three-time World Champion Elvis Stojko of Canada withdrew just a few hours before the competition started because of injury, suffering from pain in his groin.   Consequently, Stojko has now missed the entire Grand Prix Series this season.

Evgeni Plushenko (RUS) took the lead in the short program with a strong performance.   In his "Bolero" program, the 18-year-old from St. Petersburg hit a quadruple toe loop - triple toe loop combination, a high triple Axel and a triple Lutz out of steps.  His circular and straight-line step sequences were fast but, overall, Plushenko looked somewhat less dynamic than he did at the Cup of Russia and at the Sparkassen Cup.  "It was a bit difficult to skate", he explained.   "I feel tired because of the jet-lag.  The performance was OK, but I did better at the Cup of Russia."

Thanks to a good result in the short program, teammate Ilia Klimkin is now in contention for a spot in the Final.  The Muscovite finished second in the short program.  He interprete a Tango and completed a quadruple toe loop - double toe loop combination, despite a slight hesitation before adding the second jump.  Klimkin also landed his triple Axel and a triple flip, and showed well centered spins in original positions.  "Well, I had to think a bit long when I did the combination", he said with a grin.

Ben Ferreira of Canada put in a clean program to Blues music that featured a triple Axel - triple toe loop combination, a triple Lutz and double Axel.  "I feel really good about that performance.  I did everything."  The fact that he skated well was more important to him than finishing third.  "Placement is something you get when you skate well", he commented.  "But it' s great to be in third!"

Andrejs Vlascenko (GER) was fourth in the short program.  The skater from Munich pulled off all his jumps (a triple Axel - double toe loop combination, triple Lutz and double Axel) and then suddenly stopped while doing his combination spin.  A hook had fallen off his boot.  Vlascenko retied his boot and was allowed to reskate from the point at which he had stopped.  "I stayed calm", said Vlascenko.   "At first I thought I could continue, but during the spin I felt immediately that the boot was loose. So I stopped and went to the Referee."

Free Skating

First to skate in the last group was Chengiiang Li of China. He was fifth in the short program and, Li knew that if he put in a strong performance, he still had a shot at a medal.  Li began with a quadruple toe loop - triple toe loop combination and a quadruple Salchow a few seconds later.  Skating to upbeat drum music by "Blue Men", he hit three more triples but put his hand down on the ice on his triple Lutz.   Towards the end of his program, Li ran out of gas, doubled a jump and looked slow. "I have a slight cold and I felt tired", he explained.  "I'm happy with my performance, but I could have skated better artistically," he added.   The Four Continents silver medalist was ranked second in the free program and surged from fifth to third. In the final standings he claimed the bronze medal, his second in this Grand Prix series.

European Champion Evgeni Plushenko (RUS) had suffered from a bad headache after the short program and was not feeling 100 percent.   Nevertheless, the 18-year-old   delivered another brilliant performance and easily won the free skating and the competition.  It was his third win of the series.  Plushenko pulled off a quadruple toe loop - triple toe loop - double loop combination, a triple Axel - triple toe loop, another triple Axel, a triple Lutz - double loop combination and three more triples, as well as fast steps and good spins.  The entertaining routine to the motion picture soundtrack "Once upon a time in America" and "Mortal Combat" drew a lot of applause from the audience.  Plushenko received marks ranging from 5.8 to 5.9 for technical merit and 5.9s plus one perfect 6.0 for presentation.  This was to be the only 6.0 at the NHK Trophy.  "It was a good skate, I did everything", commented the Russian.  "Yesterday, I went to bed at 8 PM, and I even felt that I had fever.  I don't know what it was, if it was the jet-lag or something else.   It was better this morning, but something wasn't right with my body."

Ilia Klimkin of Russia was second after the short program and hoped to make the Grand Prix Final for the first time in his career.  Klimkin's performance had its ups and downs.  The 1999 World Junior Champion popped his opening triple Axel attempt and badly stumbled on his quadruple toe loop, but then he landed a triple Axel - triple toe loop combination and four more triples.  The program to "Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faun" featured original spins, but Klimkin skated very slowly.  The 2l-year-old waited anxiously for the marks in the kiss & cry area and jumped with joy when they came up.  Although the judges were quite divided on Klimkin and the next two skaters, he was placed third in the free program, which meant that he remained second overall.  "It is a great result to finish second", the Muscovite said.   "I could have skated better, but it is a happy end for me.  I'm participating in the senior Final for the first time, and it is another step in my career."

Ben Ferreira from Canada who was in third after the short program had a disappointing performance and dropped to seventh place.

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