China's Shen-Zhao grab Skate America pairs gold
- Source: Global Times
- [01:36 November 16 2009]
- Comments
Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo compete in the free program Sunday. Photo: AFP
Two-time Olympic bronze medalists Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo continued their comeback aimed at the Winter Games gold with a pairs victory at Skate America Grand Prix in Lake Placid Sunday.
The Chinese husband and wife added their first Skate America title to their victory at Cup of China two weeks ago – a superb start to a comeback from two years away from the sport. They hope to cap the season with a triumph at the Vancouver Olympics next year.
Shen and Zhao put on a near-immaculate performance in the free skate competition yesterday, scoring 127.04 points. Plus the points they got at the short program, the pair secured the victory with a total points of 201.40, almost 30 points more than the runners-up Tatiana Volosozahar and Stanislav Morozov of Ukraine.
However, it can't match the perfection of their short program Saturday, and both cited lack of sleep.
"Three hours," Zhao said.
"The free program today was very hard for us," Shen added.
Although they had been away from the competitions for two years, Shen said they may have actually benefited from the exhibition work they did instead.
"When we didn't compete, the last two years, we skated in Stars on Ice and that really helped us with our presentation mark," she said.
Another Chinese pair Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao, the Turin Winter Games silver medalists, scored 111.35 points in the free skate, ranking third with a total points of 168.19 points.
Evan Lysacek captured the men's title and Kim Yu-na captivated judges and crowd alike in the ladies' short program yesterday.
The two reigning world champions lived up to their billing, America's Lysacek turning in a strong free skate to claim the first Skate America title of his career.
Lysacek didn't display the brilliance that marked his short program, but he had plenty to seize the title ahead of Canada's Shawn Sawyer.
He finished the free skate with crowd-pleasing footwork and an impressive combination spin.
His total of 237.72 points was comfortably in front of Sawyer's 203.91. American Ryan Bradley was third.
Kim underscored her status as early favorite to lift ladies' gold in Vancouver as she hit the bull's eye again as a sultry Bond girl.
Kim broke her own record for most points garnered for a short program, earning 76.28 from the judges and a standing ovation from the crowd for her program to a medley of James Bond music.
"I'm trying to do a clean program every time," said Kim, who capped her routine with a teasing pistol-pointing gesture reminiscent of the celluloid spy.
She was 17.48 points ahead of second-placed Rachael Flatt of the US.
Earlier yesterday, 2006 Olympic silver medalists Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto extended their lead in ice dance in the original dance.
The Americans took nearly a 14-point lead over Russians Jana Khokhlova and Sergei Novitski into today's free dance.
Agencies
