尽管赛前报道把雷威之争搞得沸沸扬扬,今天的短节目比赛里双方更是使出浑身解数,龙争虎斗,互不相让;但在赛场外,两人都对对方表示了极为友好和大度的态度。
赛后记者会上,Evan盛赞了Johnny,并坦言第一次以卫冕冠军的身份参赛令他非常非常的紧张,特别是今天,因为短节目和四周都不是自己的强项。
他说从没意识到卫冕冠军需要承受如此巨大的压力。“(因此)我对Johnny充满敬意。他成功地赢得了三次全美冠军,我不知道他是如何做到的。但我现在了解到,那真的是件非常困难的事情。”
尽管前一段的训练里Evan四周的成功率已经接近100%,但到达St Paul后,沉重的心理负担令他的四周又出现了问题。在今天的赛前热身,他的四周完成得都不好,甚至出现了一次惨烈的摔倒,吓得在场观众一片惊呼。
Johnny先于Evan出场,他完美的表演无形中对Evan造成了更大的压力。但Johnny在Evan上场前还是对他给予了祝福。“我希望Evan可以有出色的发挥。我希望他能摆脱卫冕冠军的思想负担。我曾经经历过这样的感觉,那真的很难。我希望他可以发挥出自己的最好水平,表现出色。这样我们的对决才有看头。”
尽管在刚刚的热身中摔得很惨,Evan还是毅然决然地按原计划上了四周。却因双足被扣分。另外他后面的连跳也被迫由三周改成了两周。接着他的3A起跳又出现了倾斜,好在调整及时,保证了clean landing,但冰刀已经碰到了挡板,相当危险。随后的比赛里,Evan渐渐找到了状态,渐入佳境,对音乐的演绎极为投入,技术动作准确到位,表现堪称完美。
事后他说,在上场之前感觉疲惫不堪,浑身都在颤抖。他很高兴自己最终顶住了压力。能顺利完成短节目让他如释重负。
真正的考验在周日的自由滑,希望Evan坚持到底,全力以赴,把最好的水平发挥出来。加油吧!
Weir Wins Short ProgramBy NANCY ARMOUR
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Johnny Weir won this round. And some praise from rival Evan Lysacek.
Weir edged Lysacek in their growing on-ice rivalry Friday night, winning the short program at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. This one's not close to being settled, though, with a measly 1.35 points separating them going into Sunday afternoon's free skate.
"I hope Evan can skate well," Weir said just before Lysacek took the ice. "I hope he can get over the nerves of coming back and trying to repeat as national champion. I've had to deal with it before and it's a hard thing to do. So I hope he makes it interesting and throws all his cards on the table and skates well."
Weir scored 83.40 points, and Lysacek had 82.05. Stephen Carriere, last year's world junior champ, was third with 76.66.
Weir and Lysacek's ongoing tug of war is the best thing going in skating these days. Figure skating may be pretty, but it's when things get down and dirty that fans really pay attention. The Battle of the Brians, dueling Carmens, Michelle vs. Tara/Sarah/Sasha — whenever things get heated on the ice, it's going to get good.
Weir and Lysacek's rivalry started in the United States, with Weir winning the national title from 2004-06 before Lysacek claimed it last year. But it's gone global, with Lysacek claiming two bronze medals at the world championships. He took the bronze at this year's Grand Prix final while Weir finished fourth.
And while neither likes to admit it, knowing the other is out there has made them both better skaters.
"I have so much praise for Johnny. I don't know how he did it (be defending champion) three times," Lysacek said. "I'm learning it's extremely tough."
Especially when there's someone just as good trying to take the title away.
Weir didn't have his usual pizazz, looking very deliberate and determined as he checked off one required element after another. His triple lutz-triple toe loop combination was done with ease and control, and he was one of the few competitors who not only landed a triple axel, but did a nice one.
His footwork was light and a perfect match for the music, and he had a nice touch at the end, tapping an imaginary key as the last piano note sounded.
"I was happy with the performance I put out today, and I was pleased I could turn in a clean performance and get the monkey off back of, `Oh my God, I'm back at nationals again and last year wasn't very good,'" said Weir, who finished a distant third to
Lysacek at nationals after falling on one jump and popping another in his free skate.
Lysacek was pretty happy himself. He'd thought being the defending champion would boost his confidence, that he'd feel more relaxed knowing he's done this before.
He was wrong.
He spent the day Friday battling his nerves, and was still shaking as he waited to take the ice. It didn't help that he botched his quadruple toe several times during the warmup, crashing so hard one time it drew a sharp "Oooh" from fans.
"I was just so frazzled," Lysacek said. "I don't know what it is. I didn't think I'd be like that. (But) it's probably the most prestigious title, except for Olympic gold, for us."
Once his program began, he landed the quad on his feet. Unfortunately, it was on both of them, and that's a deduction. He only tacked on a double toe to complete the combination, and that's not worth as much as the triple toe he normally does. He also had a funky landing on his triple axel, brushing the boards with his skate.
But he made up for those minor errors with some intricate footwork and expressiveness that some actors would envy. Skating to "Zorro," he dueled his way across the ice with intense steps, kicks and turns.
His spins were simply dazzling. He was so fast he was practically a blur, and he showed great flexibility and control as he changed edges and positions. That's not easy for any skater, let alone someone who's all limbs at 6-foot-1.
When Lysacek finished, he looked relieved more than anything.
"I'm very happy with that," he said. "The short program for me is always so stressful, so I'll take it." |