American figure skater Michelle KwanAssociated Press/Eric Draper

Americans lead women's figure skate

Bobek falters, but Kwan soars

Web posted February 18, 1998

By Dennis Sodomka
Staff Writer

NAGANO - U.S. figure skaters were well on their way to setting up a possible Olympic medals sweep Wednesday night when nervousness ended the dream.

Michelle Kwan and Tara Lipinski skated near flawless short programs in women's figure skating, and judges had left plenty of room for a third American to finish in the top five. But when Nicole Bobek hit the ice after a flubbed jump American hopes slid away.

They had to settle for the top two positions heading into Friday night's long program, which counts for two thirds of the total score in the competition. That means any one of the top four skaters could win the gold medal if she skates the best long program.

In the rivalry between Kwan and Lipinski, Kwan has won the long program in their last three competitions.

Nicole BobekAssociated Press/Amy Sancetta

"When I'm on the ice I don't think anything can stop me,'' said Kwan, who skated a beautifully artistic program. "On the ice it's like medicine.''

Nothing could stop her on this night as she floated into a zone where all the uproar around an Olympics couldn't reach her. She ended the night in first, followed by Lipinski and Maria Butyrskaya of Russia, reigning European champ. Lu Chen of China is fourth.

Lipinski, more known for her technical merit than her artistry and enthusiasm, broke out in a huge grin after hitting her second jump, a triple flip. She said it was the best short program of her life. "I felt like I wanted to cry,'' said Lipinski. "I did want to yell. I wished this was a four-minute program so I could just keep going on and enjoy the moment.''

Bobek, who earlier had said the U.S. trio could sweep the medals, fell on her first jump and stumbled on two others. She slipped to 17th place and went into seculsion immediately after her performance. "She is very upset and doesn't want to talk to anyone right now,'' said her coach, Christa Fassi. "Obviously, she was nervous, more nervous than she ever has been.''

Lipinski started the evening off right for the Americans with a strong program skated to "Once Upon a December,'' from the Movie "Anastasia.'' She did change one combination. It was supposed to be a triple lutz, triple loop, but she shortened it to a triple lutz, double loop.

Tara LipinskiAssociated Press/Doug Mills

When the program was over she gave it two thumbs up, and grabbed her head with both hands at center ice. She received scores ranging from 5.6 to 5.8 on the technical merits of her program, usually her strong suit. She was delighted with the artistic scores, ranging from 5.6 to 5.9.

Lipinski had struggled in recent competitions as judges have criticized the way she changes edges on her skates on some jumps. In the national championships last month she fell in the short program, but came on strong in the long to finish second to Kwan.

"I'm so relieved,'' said Lipinski, 15. "It feels like a miracle.''

"That is the fastest she's skated,'' said her coach Richard Callahan. "You could tell it in her eyes."

Kwan skated several slots later, so she knew what it would take for first place. As usual, she seemed to shut out external distractions and direct her energies to her program.

On Wednesday it was smooth and effortless. Technical scores ranged from 5.6 to 5.8 and all nine judges gave her 5.9 for artistic merit.

"I felt really great out there,'' said Kwan, 17, who skated to "Moderato from Piano Trio #2 in D Minor,'' by Rachmaninoff. Her performance included a triple lutz/double toe loop, a double axel and a triple toe loop, all hit perfectly.

"I knew I had a job to do. I knew I had to do all the elements precise and clean.

"In the beginning of my program I saw the American flag. I heard everyone cheer and scream, and it was like, 'God, I'm in heaven.' People clapping, billions of people watching, and I'm by myself skating. You know nothing matters.''

Not even a poor warmup bothered Kwan.

"I told myself I've done this so many times,'' she said. "I have done everything possible and I'm here to do this and have fun.''

For Bobek nothing went right. On her first jump, a triple lutz, she fell on her backside. Obviously shaken after that, she struggled the rest of the way. On a double toe loop and on a double axel, she landed on both feet, bringing major point deductions.

As she left the ice past a throng of reporters someone asked her if she would stop to talk. "Nope,'' said Bobek, wiping away tears. Later her coach came out to answer three questions. When someone asked if she would come back and skate in the long program Friday, Fassi said, "Of course, we're not poor losers.''