Ando concludes sweep
Eurosport - Thu, 10 May 00:04:12 2007
Miki Ando upset team mate Mao Asada to claim the women's gold at Skate America in Connecticut on Saturday, giving Japanese skaters a sweep of the singles titles at the season's first grand prix.
More StoriesJapan dominate Grand Prix
Ando posted a personal best mark of 125.85 in the free skate to hold off surprise 2006 world champion Kimmie Meisnner of the U.S.
Asada, winner of last season's Grand Prix final, had held the lead after a dazzling short program but a flawed free skate dropped the 16-year-old into third.
It was Ando's first Grand Prix success, the 18-year-old skater joining men's winner Nobunari Oda as Skate America champions.
Ando landed 10 jumps in the first two and a half minutes of her routine on her way to an overall total of 192.59 points.
Meissner scored 177.78, while Asada managed 171.23.
"Last year, I had a lot of misses in my jumps," Ando told reporters. "This year I want to be without mistakes, the Miki I am without jumping mistakes.
"Last year, I had a lot of injuries and some problems with my training."
Rena Inoue and John Baldwin gave the home crowd at the Hartford Civic Center the U.S. victory they hoped for, winning the pairs title ahead of the Polish husband-and-wife team of Dorota Siudek and Mariusz Siudek.
Americans Naomi Nari Nam and Themistocles Leftheris completed the podium, taking the bronze in their first grand prix competition.
In the ice dance, Bulgarian world champions Albena Denkova and Maxim Staviski launched their competitive season in style by easing to the gold ahead of Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov of the United States.
Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat of France took the bronze.
While Denkova and Staviski won all three segements of the competition, their victory was not without drama after the pair were involved in a nasty collision with British champions Sinead and John Kerr during morning warm-up.
Denkova was left with a cut on right leg while Staviski hurt his hip in the crash.
"I had a little scratch in my leg," Denkova said. "Maxim unfortunately got hurt a little more, he has pain in his hip and he put a lot of ice on it." |
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显身卡
真遗憾
中国站时轮到友邦人士痛苦了,哈哈哈哈哈哈~~~~
