by Alexandra Stevenson
Unexpected Happenings as Pirate Queen
Battles into First Place
1. Alena Leonova, Russia, 64.61
(34.64+29.97) Skating 20th of the 28 competitors who progressed into
the Short Program, the 21-year-old from Moscow gave a spirited,
fiery performance dressed as a pirate in a routine set to Sirens and
Pirates of the Caribbean, opening with an impressive combination of
two triple toe loops. Two of the nine judges thought it was superb
and gave the maximum +3. Six others punched their vote for +2 while
a solitary judge awarded “only” +1 which is for superior and that,
and one of the +3s were thrown out. That resulted in the combination
earning an extra 1.50 points over its base value of 8.20.
The
triple flip which followed was competent although one judge saw
something wrong and gave -1 Grade of Execution. Her double Axel was
good enough for an extra +0.64. All three spins and the steps were
the maximum Level 4, with the straight lines steps receiving two +3s
along with five +2s and two +1s.
Leonova was only third in
her national championships this season, beaten by competitors too
young to be entered in this event, and in the recent European
championships she finished 7th although she was sixth in both
sections. She said, “Obviously, I performed my program at 100%
today. I am even more pleased with my jumps and the very high levels
I got, than with the fact being in first place. This was my best
Short Program in this season and probably of my life so far.
“When we
were putting this program together with my coach, Nikolai Morozov, I
was already trying to bring a lot of emotions into it and my coach
showed me how to do that. Today, maybe because I landed everything,
there were even more emotions, and I am very pleased that I came
across to the audience. There were not so many spectators today,
but, of course, it is a working day today. But still, I did feel the
support of the crowd. I heard them cheering – in the warm up
already. There were also a lot of Russians. It was very nice to have
that support.”
Afterwards, she drew to free skate first of the
top six, which some skaters don’t like because they feel if they use
the full six minutes warm-up time, they won’t have time to recover
for the performance. She just shrugged that situation off. “If I
would start thinking about the starting number that I got, it would
really be too much, so I won’t do that. There is no lucky or unlucky
starting number. It is almost the same as today, and I am happy with
it.
“The first thing my coach told me was to forget
completely about today. Of course he was praising me for what I did.
I am not sure of what I will do to distract myself until the free
skate. My coach said maybe to take a walk along the seaside or
listen to some music. And I will, of course, support our Russian
skaters tomorrow. At first, I was even a little upset to have a day
off in between, but now I think that I could need a rest. I will
train a little tomorrow and come to watch the Men's Short Program
and support our skaters.
“I love this city. You can
say it is lucky for me. I am competing here for the sixth time
already. (They have an annual competition, Coupe de Nice.) I never
left Nice without a medal.”
2. Kanako Murakami,
Japan, 62.67 (34.61+28.06), 17, won the 2010 World Junior title, and
placed 8th in her debut in last year’s world senior championships,
but there are so many talented skaters from her country. Like Leonova, she began her routine, which was set to violin music, with
a combination of two triple toe loops which earned an extra full
point over its base value, but that was 0.50 lower than Leonova’s
GoE. However, Murakami’s triple flip and double Axel jumps were
awarded 0.20 and 0.15 more than that given for the Russian’s effort.
Her spins and the footwork were all Level 4, with her final spin,
the combination receiving a +3 from one judge.
She said, “I haven’t been
skating well on practice ever since I arrived in Nice, so I was a
little unsure today, especially with the double Axel. I was very
nervous and worried. I was just glad to perform well and I am very
satisfied now. We have many strong skaters in Japan, and I think I
have learned a lot from them. This is probably why I was able to be
here today. I usually don’t think about who I can beat, I stay
focused on myself and try to skate the best I can. After having bad
practice sessions, my coach really encouraged me and helped me to
change my attitude. I like to have a day off in between the Short
and long because I can recover from today and then I’ll be able to
prepare well for the free program.
3. Carolina Kostner,
Italy, 61.00 (30.26+30.74) The four time and reigning European
champion, who lost that crown in 2009 and again in 2011, won silver
in the 2008 Worlds and bronzes in both 2005 and 2011. She performed
to Shostkovich’s Allegretto from Trio No. 2. Her combination of two
triple toe loops got the maximum +3 from one judge, although that
was thrown out as the highest mark. Her added GoE average for this
element was 1.30, which was 0.20 less that Leonova’s.
She
doubled her attempted triple loop which meant all her GoEs were
automatically the lowest, -3, because a triple jump is required in
both the combination and the jump out of footwork.
The 25-year-old said, “I
have mixed feelings about my performance today. It could have been
better. On the whole, it was really good. I had a mistake on a jump
and that makes me quite angry because it’s a jump I have almost
never missed. Sometimes you just need a mistake like that to get you
down to earth again, to make you stay focused until the end of the
competition, which I will try to do.
“I arrived on Tuesday
evening, and I trained in the practice rink on Wednesday and in the
main rink this morning. I cannot complain about the ice here, it’s
very smooth and I really like it. When I first heard that we have a
day off between the Short and the Long, I wondered why. But, since
we don’t have a choice, I don’t think about it. It isn’t a problem.
I can use it to recover and will enjoy the day.
“After my poor skate at the
Vancouver Olympics, I wanted to stop skating. But after a while, I
realized that miss the training and the life of an athlete. I don’t
skate for medals any more. My goal is just to skate because that is
what I love to do. I know that it will not last forever. I just want
to show my best and let the judges decide the scores. Last year,
when my choreographer proposed that I use this music, I was
uncertain about it. I thought it was just noise. But this year, when
we listened to it again, I thought it could be fun to choreograph
it. What is so special about figure skating is that you can be very
creative and this music helped uncover a new side of me, helping me
becoming a full woman.”
Although her circular steps and the flying
camel spin were both Level 4, her other two spins were only Level 3.
She said, “I made a mistake, so I am a bit angry, but the rest was
good. The goal for the free program is to simply stay concentrated
and fight. In the end, all I can do is fight and then it's up to the
judges to decide. I feel good about the free skate, I've been
working a lot and now it's just time to do it. I didn't feel a lot
of pressure, no, after the Europeans and the Grand Prix Final I was
very happy to have this confirmation that I belong to the World's
elite. I've really had a great season so far.”
4. Mao Asada, Japan,
59.49 (30.89+29.60 -1) Asada skated 19th, first of top ranked ten,
immediately prior to Leonova. She insists on shooting herself in the
foot, trying the triple Axel she was once famous for but which she
can no longer do. She got a double arrow, which meant it was as a
bad double and earned only 1.80 points.
The 21-year-old, who won
this title in 2008 and 2010, and was the Olympic silver medalist,
performed to Rimsky Korsakov’s Sheherazade. Mao’s solo triple, a
loop, was also flawed and she lost -0.60 from its base value of
5.10. Her jump combination was a triple flip to double loop.
Including the 0.70 GoE, she earned 7.80 for this element. All her
Level moves were the maximum 4, and she was rewarded with one +3,
for her straight line steps.
She admitted, “I was a
little worried about the triple Axel because I haven't done well
with it since I got to Nice. I didn’t do it in practice or in the
warm up. I am really disappointed about today's performance. I felt
a lot of support from the audience and I wanted to show my best to
live up to their expectations. I will just try to put this
performance aside and change my mindset for the free skating.”
5. Akiko Suzuki,
Japan, 59.38 (30.67+28.71) Suzuki, who turned 27 the day before the
Short Program, skated to Hungarian Rhapsody. She executed a +1.30
combination of two triple toe loops, which so impressed one judge,
he/she gave the maximum +3 GoE. However, she doubled her Lutz which
was given an “e” for wrong edge takeoff. Her double Axel earned
+0.79 over its base value and all four Level moves got the maximum
4.
Suzuki, who was eighth in the 2010 Olympics,
said, “I felt good until today. I know I was nervous and tense, but
I wanted to turn the nervousness into positive energy. I focused on
my triple toe-triple toe too much maybe. I was thinking ahead for
the other elements. That's maybe why I made the mistake on the Lutz.
I am disappointed with what I did today. I'd like to use the crowd's
energy in my free skating performance.”
6. Ksenia Makarova,
Russia, 58.51 (31.30+27.21) The 19-year old Makarova skated 22nd to
the music Maria and the Violin’s String. She was seventh in Worlds
last year and sixth in the recent European championship, which was a
disappointment because she had been fourth in the 2011 season.
Although she was born in Russia, her parents, the 1984 pair Olympic
bronze medalists, moved to the United States when she was eight.
However she moved back when she started representing Russia, in the
2010 season.
Makarova earned +1.30 over the base value for
her combination of two triple toe loops, but she doubled her Lutz
which was given an “e” for wrong edge take-off. She received Level 4
for all three spins but her steps were Level 3. She said, “I am very
satisfied with my performance. I didn't have more pressure this time
than before. I didn't feel I have to prove anything. I just wanted
to stay clean and skate for myself. My preparation was more to stay
healthy. I was sick after Europeans and a little injured, but I am
perfectly fine now. In the free skate, I want to show my triple
Lutz, which I learned not too long ago, and, of course, I want to
enjoy skating here again, just as I did today.”
7. Elene
Gedevanishvili, Georgia, 58.49 (30.86+27.63) A huge roar came from
the audience when the 22-year-old Gedevanishvili soared through a
triple Lutz to triple toe loop which earned a full point over its
base value. However, she singled her Axel. Two of her spins were
Level 4 but the layback and her steps were Level 3. She skated to
Jacob Garde’s Jealousy Tango.
The 2010 and 2012 European
bronze medallist is now training in Canada with Brian Orser. She
said, “I felt my performance was good and I enjoyed skating the
program today. It wasn't perfect – I was upset about (singling) my
double Axel. I guess I got a little too excited (after landing the
triple Lutz-triple toe and triple Salchow) and I stopped feeling my
feet. I want to skate a solid free skate like I've been skating all
year. I've worked really hard for this competition and I hope I can
show that on Saturday.”
8. Ashley Wagner, US, 56.42 (28.80+27.62)
The 20-year-old US and Four Continents’ champion, now trained by
John Nicks, skated to the music Pollock by Jeff Beal, opened her
routine with a flawed triple flip which lost -1.40 but her triple
loop to double toe earned +0.50 over its base value and her double
Axel got +0.43. Two of her spins were Level 4. The layback and the
steps were Level 2.
Wagner won bronze in both the 2007 and 2009 World Junior
Championships. This is her second world senior championship. She was
sent as a reserve to the 2008 Worlds where she finished 16th. She
said, “Overall, it was a really long waiting period (last to skate
in her warm-up group of six) and so that's why I struggled with the
triple flip. But I think I came back extremely strong with that
performance, considering the level of pressure at this high level of
competition. I think what I accomplished was pretty big considering
I didn't have the strongest elements today. A clean free skate
program is going to get me where I want to be and I just have to go
out, keep focused, and I'll be set.”
9. Kexin Zhang, China,
55.00 (32.76+22.24) The 16-year-old Zhang was fifth in the recent
Four Continents
Championship. She skated to Rackmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 3. She
said, “I think I did well today. It was my best score of the season
and I'm happy I landed all my jumps, including my triple toe-triple
toe. I like France and hope to have time to visit some sights while
I'm here. I'm not thinking about my final placement but hope to
skate as well in my free skate tomorrow.”
10. Viktoria Helgesson,
Sweden, 54.19 (28.35+25.84) The 23-year-old, who performed to My
Funny Valentine, skated 30th and last. She is the six time and
reigning Swedish champion and she has a younger sister who is also
an international competitor. She said, “I felt a bit nervous today,
especially skating last. I had a long wait, but I felt good with the
triple-triple (although the second toe loop received an arrow for
slight under-rotation). This was the first time I did this in
competition. I didn't feel too much pressure, compared to Europeans.
I just want to skate clean in the free skating and see what comes
out of it.”
11. Valentina Marchei, Italy, 52.14
(27.28+24.86) The 25-year-old 2010 and 2012 national champion, who
trains in Detroit, performed to a mambo routine to music from
Strictly Ballroom. Marchi said, “Today I was very nervous because I
didn't compete on Worlds for three years. First it was injury, then
we had one spot, and then injury again.” She messed up her triple
Lutz which was meant to be a combination. However, she sensibly
added a double toe jump to the triple Salchow to salvage what points
she could. “I am totally happy, because this happened on three
competitions in a row. I told my coaches, Jason (Dungjen) and Yuka
(Sato), whatever happens, thank you. Because in July, after the long
recovery, I wasn't skating for five months. And they did such a good
job. So I told them, whatever happens I just want to skate and be
proud of what I do. They made me confident again.”
12. Jenna McCorkell,
GB, 50.42 (27.56+22.86) McCorkell, the many time British champion
has her husband here, Kevin van der Perren, who is competing in the
men's event. McCorkell, 25, said, “It was a special situation for
me. I won the preliminary round and this made me have higher
expectations of my performance today. I got my season's best so I am
really pleased. I know that I don't get very high
GOE for my jumps and I’ve been working extra
hard to improve that. After the disappointment at the Europeans
(where she finished 18th), I just wanted to show what I can here. I
already showed two good programs. Now I want to show a good free
program again.”
McCorkell lost -0.70 on her combination of
triple Lutz to double toe after jackknifing her first landing a bit.
But she received positive GoEs for all the other moves. The steps
and the layback spin received Level 3 but the other two spins earned
Level 4.
13. Amelie Lacoste, Canada, 49.37
(25.80+23.57) The 23-year-old new Canadian champion skated to Duke
Ellington’s Satin Doll. Although her other elements were good she
messed up her combination. She explained, “I think I just hestitated
a little bit too much on my triple-triple, even though I know I do
it on practice every day in the program. I really wanted to do it,
but it's just didn't go the way I wanted. But overall the program
was good, except the combo, and I gave my hundred percent. I am very
confident about my free program. I just have to put aside my short
program and just focus on what I want to do and what I want to achieve
here. I will not do a triple-triple in it, I just want to do five
triples, and to perform like I do in practice.
14. Elena Glebova,
Estonia, 49.04 (28.47+21.57 -1)
15. Yretha Silete,
France, 48.42 (27.60+20.82) The 17-year-old French champion executed
a combination of two triple toe loops which had only 0.10 removed
from the base value, but l-1.7 on her triple loop. She said, “I felt
a lot of pressure before and during my program and I was very
focused. I did some few errors because of that. I just think that I
would have to be more relaxed to make my elements work. But of
course it was my first World Championships so that didn’t happen. I
didn't think anything about it being before a home crowd but there
was great crowd support. It was a terrific experience to perform
here. In the free skate, I won't have anything to lose. I'll try to
skate clean and maybe to make up some places.”
16. Alissa Czisny, US,
48.31 (23.26 -2) The 24-year-old Czisny, who presented a beautifully
choreographed routine to the French classic La Vie en Rose, was
disappointed at her performance. Last year, as US champion, she
finished fifth in the world championship. She said, “I want to thank
the audience for being great even though I wasn't my best today. I
don't really know what happened. The jumps weren't there. I have to
take what I've learned to do and use that in the free skate.” She
fell twice, messing up her first jump, the triple Lutz which was
meant to be her combination, and the following triple loop which
also got an arrow for slight under-rotation.
17.
Juulia Turkila, Finland, 47.75 (28.18+19.57)
18. Sonia LaFuente, Spain, 47.36
(26.98+20.38)
19.
Polina Korobeynikova, Russia, 46.71 (25.36+21.35) The 15-year-old
from Moscow, who was third in the Junior Grand Prix Final, skated to
Tchaikovski’s Russian Dance. She could not hold the landing of her
triple flip and had to do a double three turn on the landing of what
was meant to be her combination. She explained, “I struggled with
this combination in practice the last week before coming here. It
didn't work at all. I don't really have an explanation for it. I was
nervous in the hotel, but once I got to the ice rink, I was calm. I
will try very hard in the free skating on Saturday.”
20. Natalia Popova,
Ukraine, 46.60 (26.57+20.03)
21. Sarah Hecken, Germany, 46.39
(24.99+22.40 -1)
22.
Kersten Frank, Austria, 45.80 (26.86+18.94)
23. Alisa Mikonsaari, Finland, 44.16
(24.90+19.26)
24.
Romy Buehler, Switzerland, 44.02 (23.78+20.24)
Did not make the cut to Saturday’s Free:
25. Victoria Muniz, Puerto Rico
26.
Isabelle Pieman, Belgium
27. Alina
Fjodorova, Latvia
28. Min-Jeong Kwak,
South Korea
29. Clara Peters, Ireland
30. Lejeanne Marais, South Africa