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FREE PROGRAM
Elvis was first to skate (for the second year!!!). His music was "The Mummy" soundtrack. Early in his program he fell on his quadruple toeloop. But Elvis is Elvis and to say it in his own words he is a fighter. Well he demonstrated it during this program: it was like the fell on the quad didn't happen for him. He landed seven more triples with two triple/triple combinationin. His spins were fast and well centered and he included complex step sequences. Marks: technical merit ranged from 5.5 to 5.7 and he received two 5.8s for presentation.
Michael Weiss stepped out of his quadruple toeloop and, could only manage a triple Axel/double toeloop combination. But his performance on the Carmen was good anyway: he landed five more clean triples with a triple/triple combination. His spins were great and his interpretation too. Eventually he put his hand down on his second attempt at the triple Axel. Marks: four 5.8s for presentation but his marks for technical merit were lower than Stojko's.
Now was Yashka turn. He started with a quadruple toeloop/triple toeloop combination but touched down on the landing of the triple toeloop. Then he went to the other side of the rink and under everybody astonished eyes he managed to land his second big clean quadruple toeloop. At the beginning I couldn't believe to my eyes: two quads in less then 1 minute! His program started so well but was jeopardized by many small and big mistakes: he put a hand down on his first attempt at the triple Axel, his landing were sometimes rough and he fell hard on his triple lutz. Anyway he really fought till the end of the program: fast steps, great expression. Marks: included five 5.8s for technical merit (where there were also an inexplicable 5.4!)and seven 5.9s for presentation.
Plushy had the title in his hand (he would have become the youngest World champion in history!): there was full space for him at this moment but...well dreams not always come true... When he stepped on the ice I was sure I was going to watch the performance of the world champion. I was sitting near a skater and I was all happy about the way the competition was coming out. I think I will never forget his words in that moment "Hold on luv, he has still to skate". Yes i was forgetting a little detail! It was the pressure? It was fear of winning? I don't know but I know what I saw that incredible night on the ice of Nice. He started and he doubled his first quadruple toeloop. Then he was done. He tried the quad again (could only manage a triple toeloop), then a triple Axel, then again the quad (fell). The audience was astonished. Nobody could believe to the european champion meltdown. My stomach was in pain. After this he managed to land five clean triples including a triple Axel/double toeloop/single loop combination and his billman spin. No way this could beat Yag. Marks: technical merit from 5.3 - 5.7 and one 5.9 for presentation. There was no place for him on the podium, he was fourth.
Skaters who landed clean quadruples in the FP
Quad toe Honda (JPN), Guo (CHN), Restencourt (FRA), Chengjiang Li (CHN) (the quad in his combination was clean). Quad salchow Tim Goebel (USA) landed two quads (a quadruple Salchow/triple toeloop and a quadruple toeloop).