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No surprises as Russians win dance crown
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The long chase is over for Anjelika Krylova and Oleg Ovsyannikov.The Russian couple finally reached the top of ice dancing Friday night, taking the title in the World Figure Skating Championships. They never really caught their countrymen and nemeses, two-time Olympic champions Pasha Grishuk and Yevgeny Platov, but when Grishuk-Platov didn't come to the world championships, Krylova-Ovsyannikov moved up.
It was hardly a surprise in ice dancing, in which the standings seem so predetermined that the International Skating Union will look into the judging and format of the event during its congress in June. The Russian couple that broke away from different partners to get together in 1996 was second in one national championship, three Europeans, two worlds and the Nagano Olympics -- all behind Grishuk and Platov, who won 22 straight competitions.
As expected, France's Marina Anissina and Gwendal Peizerat were second, up one spot from their Olympic finish. Also ascending one spot were Canada's Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz, who clearly won over the crowd with their frenetic "Riverdance." The Hungarian and German judges placed them first, but they had six thirds and one second.
Couples from Russia or the Soviet Union have won all but one world championship since Torvill and Dean, considered the greatest of all ice dancers, turned pro in 1984.
Five-time American champions Elizabeth Punsalan and Jerod Swallow, in their last major appearance before turning pro, finished sixth.
Krylova-Ovsiannykov skated an updated, playful version of Carmen that concluded with her pulling a red ribbon from his chest as if tearing out his heart. They'd felt as if their hearts were torn away several times when it seemed they outskated Grishuk-Platov, only to fail to get the marks.
Their performance earned nothing but 5.9s for artistry. The victory gave Russia gold in all three disciplines completed -- Alexei Yagudin won the men's and Yelena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze took the pairs.
Anissina, who was born in Russia, and Peizerat stage a moving, lyrical routine to "Romeo and Juliet" in which she carries him on twice.
The biggest cheers went to Bourne and Kraatz -- before, throughout and after their riveting performance. And during the medals ceremonies, too.
They hugged warmly after completing their program as Canadian flags waved throughout the audience and chants of "6.0!" and "Canada!" rocked the Target Center.