|
Leaders tumble, and Arakawa wins Gold
(AP)
Updated: 2006-02-24 08:49
"I was very disappointed with my skate," Cohen said. "I definitely gave 100
percent in my effort, I gave it my all. So I have no regrets with that. But it
just wasn't my night."
(L-R) Silver
medallist Sasha Cohen from the U.S., gold medal winner Shizuka Arakawa (C)
from Japan and bronze medallist Irina Slutskaya of Russia pose during a
medal ceremony for the women's Figure Skating competition at the Torino
2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy, February 23, 2006.
[Reuters] | That left Slutskaya, a two-time world champion and 2002 Olympic silver
medalist. She lacked sparkle in her free skate and the fall crushed any chance
she had.
"It's life, it's competition, and we can't change anything right now," she
said.
That ended Russia's hopes for an unprecedented sweep of the gold after taking
the men's, pairs and ice dancing titles.
The 24-year-old Arakawa became just the second Japanese skater with any
Olympic medal; Midori Ito, one of Arakawa's idols, won silver behind Kristi
Yamaguchi in 1992. Ito led the cheers of the flag-waving Japanese in the crowd.
Cohen's history of falling in the biggest international events bit her again.
Even her first U.S. title last month came with some questions because
nine-time champion Michelle Kwan was sidelined. She also collapsed in the 2003
and 2004 national championships that went to Kwan, and the 2004 worlds won by
Arakawa.
Not to mention the Salt Lake City Olympics, where she faded from third after
the short program and Sarah Hughes soared from fourth to the top.
"I enjoyed the experience," Cohen said. "I'm just really ecstatic to come out
with a medal."
Looking nervous when she took the ice, Cohen never gave herself an
opportunity for the gold after carrying a tiny lead into the free skate. She
went down heavily on a triple lutz that ruined a planned three-jump combination,
then put two hands on the ice on a triple flip.
The rest of her program was strong enough to keep her on the podium, but
Cohen once again couldn't seize the moment.
Emily Hughes, Sarah's 17-year-old sister, fell on a triple loop and shortened
another jump, but her seventh-place finish was remarkable for a newcomer.
|
