Ice dancers engaged in war of words
Some skaters try to intimidate us, Bourne claims
By Randy Starkman
Toronto Star Sports Reporter
MUNICH - Those who like to see a good bodycheck might want to watch more than hockey at the Nagano Olympics: Canada's Shae-Lynn Bourne claims Russian rivals have tried to make ice dancing a contact sport.
Bourne was asked on the eve of today's Champions Series final about allegations that the Russians have attempted to take them out with a well-timed hit when they're on the ice together during practice.
``Often that happens,'' said Bourne. ``It's sad. Some people will get so close to you and it's scary because you've got to be careful.''
Bourne, of Chatham, said she thought they might be trying to intimidate her and partner Victor Kraatz of Vancouver.
``It could be, but it doesn't work on us,'' she said. ``It might work on some people. The only thing is it's sad because you don't need to hurt someone or do that to somebody to do well.''
Bourne said the situation has improved this season, but that it was so bad two years ago at the Champions Series final that they complained to the organizing committee.
'' Last year, we had a lot of practices where we had to be on the ball and stay against the boards so we didn't get hit,'' she said. ``You can't let that go on. There's no reason for someone to get hurt.''
Bourne didn't name names, but the two Russian couples ranked ahead of them in the world right now are reigning world and Olympic champs Oksana (Pasha) Grishuk and Evgeny Platov, and Anjelika Krylova and Oleg Ovsiannikov. The latter duo pulled out of the Champions Series final.
There's been plenty of verbal sparring between the teams here. It's a good thing they're not marking one another's free dance program because they're thoroughly unimpressed.
Grishuk was particularly snarky yesterday about Bourne and Kraatz's Riverdance routine, a technically difficult and vibrant program the Canadians hope will vault them to the top of ladder in a sport where change occurs about as often as the Red Sea parts.
``I don't really worry about them honestly,'' said Grishuk. ``It's very easy to take somebody's idea. This Riverdance has been on TV so many times.''
The bad blood between the teams could have something to do with the fact that Grishuk and Platov were once coached by Natalia Dubova, who now guides Bourne and Kraatz.
The press bio on the Russians states: ``After Grishuk had a love affair with another Russian ice dancer in 1992, Dubova chased her away.''
But Grishuk denied that yesterday and said it was their decision to leave Dubova, against whom she had no hard feelings.
It appears to be a clash of styles as well as personalities. Kraatz believes the free dance of Grishuk and Platov, a dramatic number skated to ``Memorial Requiem'' by Michael Nyman sets the sport back at least a decade. There was supposed to be a push on in ice dance this year to make the event more athletic and more of a competitive sport.
``I think if everybody were to follow as to what the current champions are doing, it's going to take skating back so many years,'' said Kraatz. ``You don't want to do that. That's like 1985.'' 呵呵呵 Dubova应该是积怨已深 哈哈哈 B/K有些酸葡萄心理。 谢谢楼上的诸位大人……
感觉她俩性格都很强啊，膜拜^_^
只是03年以后经常看到Shae-Lynn一个人在冰上表演还是觉得她蛮孤单的~（一句题外话：其实后来Marina也常一个人表演，sigh~） 汗～看了大河之舞还觉得Bjj是个蛮天真可爱的女孩子呢～～～
没想到火爆程度不输Pasha，二位真是火星撞地球啊 BJJ如此厉害我也是根本没有想到
我也一直都认为她应该是温柔甜美的姑娘，结果却
从她被肥莫甩了后，没有一哭二闹三上吊就足够让人佩服了。这点他比PASHA还要厉害。
美女有了个性不知道是好还是坏啊。
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