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Plushenko skates off with Gold
(AP)
Updated: 2006-02-17 09:03
All of his main rivals skated after him in the final group and, one by one,
they fell short. He opened with a quadruple toe loop-triple toe-double loop
combination, followed with a triple axel-double toe.
 It was over right there.
Plushenko crossed himself twice at the end, then got a big hug and kiss on
the cheek from longtime coach Alexei Mishin. Plushenko also kissed his wedding
ring while awaiting his marks — appropriate for someone who skated to "The
Godfather."
Plushenko even stuck around to watch Lambiel and Weir. The Russian had
nothing to worry about, easily adding gold to the silver he won four years ago
in Salt Lake City.
Russian flags waved throughout the arena as Plushenko received his medal,
smiling widely. But he was stoic on the podium while Lambiel cried during the
Russian national anthem.
Plushenko's program wasn't nearly as memorable as those that produced gold
for Victor Petrenko, Alexei Urmanov, Ilia Kulik and Alexei Yagudin in the
Russian/Soviet streak. But it gave his country both figure skating gold medals
so far — Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinin won the pairs — and Russia is
favored in women and dance.
No country has swept the golds at an Olympics.
Lambiel and Buttle were more medals survivors than anything, and Weir was
particularly uninspired.
"I was off, it was an off night," said the 21-year-old Weir. "But I will be
back in four years, hopefully for a medal."
Weir two-footed a triple axel, had a shaky landing on a triple lutz, did a
sloppy triple flip and spun as if he didn't really want to turn. With only one
combination jump, his medal chances flew away and he ended up sixth in the free
skate.
That allowed American Evan Lysacek to soar past him, from 10th to fourth.
It took 13 skaters for the first clean program, and it was Lysacek's
magnificent moment. The runner-up to Weir at nationals when Lysacek won the free
skate, he packed his "Carmen" routine with emotion and motion — hitting all
eight of his triple jumps, three in combinations, and spinning precisely and
quickly.
Amazing considering he has a stomach flu and was bedridden Wednesday.
The 20-year-old Lysacek covered his face with his hand at the finish, then
fell to one knee with the crowd on its feet. His personal best of 152.58 was
third in the free skate and a terrific way to make up for a poor short program
(10th).
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