2005World ChampionshipsLadies Event
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2005World ChampionshipsLadies Event
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There were few clean program in this segment of the event, and Irina Slutskaya did not have one of them. It was a decent skate overall with two nice spins and decent sequences. Her program components were respectable (7-8) but not spectacular. In her opening combination she turned out of the triple Lutz and she had a control problem on her closing combination spin. Both of these elements received negative GoEs. She now holds a 2.83 point lead over Sasha Cohen. A slim margin, so the gold medal is not assured at this point.
Irina SlutskayaSasha Cohen skated well but had three problems in her program. On her solo triple flip she may have touched down with the free foot, but only half the panel gave her a negative GoE (-2), so opinion on that was divided. During her spiral sequence she had a minor control check, and at the end of the program she went over time finishing her closing spin, for a 1 point deduction. The gold medal is potentially within her reach, if only she can keep her head together! Michelle Kwan took a small step of recovery after her mediocre qualifying round performance by placing third in the Short Program, and now sits in fifth place. Under the new system, however, that is not so bad as skaters 3 through 6 in this event are all within 1.5 point of each other and effectively are tied. They all have a chance for the bronze medal, and even the silver should Cohen or Slutskaya falter in the long. Kwan had only one element with a negative GoE, but that is solely due to an unlucky draw in the random selection of the marks. Another encouraging sign was that her program components were substantially better in the Short Program than they were in the qualifying round. Fourth in the Short Program and third overall is Carolina Kostner. Kostner had the highest technical score, and she skated one of the few clean programs, but her program components are a weakness. While numerically in the running for a medal, her artistic and presentation skills may prove an impediment. Koster was also one of only two ladies to land a triple triple in the Short Program, for her a triple flip - triple toe, and for Miki Ando a triple Lutz - triple loop. Shizuka Arakawa, Miki Ando and Elena Sokolova remain in the mix for the bronze medal. Jennifer Kirk continued to struggle through this competition. She placed 18th in the Short program and now is in 16th place overall. She did not skate with either the speed or enthusiasm she showed at U.S. Nationals. Three of her elements had negative GoEs. One of these was a fall on solo triple flip. For the other two (her triple Lutz - double toe combination and a flying camel spin) the panel did not agree, with only 1/3 giving negative ratings for those elements. |
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Skating last in the event, Irina Slutskaya won the Free Skate and the event by a comfortable margin of over 8 points. She landed an opeing triple Lutz - triple loop combination, and went on from there to skate a clean program with a total of seven triple in the program. She was the leader of the group in both technical score and program components, receiving marks of 7.25 through 9.00. Her spin and sequence elements were all rated level 2 and 3 and she received no negative GoEs. Sasha Cohen has a reputation for not being able to handle high pressure events, but this week she cam through in all three performances. Before skating her Short Program, the audience greeted her with call of "fall fall fall." Today they were not so partisan. Cohen was scored second in both technical score and program components. It was not a perfect skate, but still a fine job. She landed six triples and stepped out of a seventh. On a triple toe loop to triple Saclchow she stepped out of the Salchow. Just prior to that element she also had a close call on the landing of a triple flip which was not landed securely. Her program components ranged from 6.75 to 8.75. Michelle Kwan placed third in the Free Skating, but missed out on the bronze medal to Carolina Kostner by 0.37 points. Kwan fell on a triple Salchow and two footed a triple Lutz. Even so, her performance was far superior to her qualifying round effort. This time around, four of her spin and sequence elements were called at level 2, with the remainder 1. Kostner placed fourth in the Free Skating, but had enough of a lead after the Short Program to place third overall. Despite tow erros her performance was technically proficient, landing a triple Flip - triple toe - double loop combination, and despite problems on two jump elements. On a double Axel to Triple Salchow sequence she nearly fell on the Salchow, just managing to keep one foot on the ice and avoid a 1 point deduction. At the and of the program she stepped out of a solo double Axel. Her program component were mostly in the low 7s. An honorable mention goes to Fumie Suguri, who placed fifth in long to move up to fifth place. Jennifer Kirk clawed her way up to 17th place, placing 17th in the Free Skating. Her performance started off promising, landing triple Lutz - double toe, triple flip - double toe and then a double Axel. But, on a solo triple flip she fell, and on her last jump of the program, a Salchow, she singled the jump. She skating with fair speed, and it was her best effort of the week, but nowhere at the level it needed to be. Her program components where only in the 5s. |
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