Sunday, February 10, 2002
Good to the last drop
By TERRY JONES -- Edmonton Sun
SALT LAKE CITY - It was the side-by-side double klutz.
They ended up looking like David Sale and Jamie Pelletier, kind of a pairs pretzel.
The world pairs champions fell in a twisted pile of arms and legs at the end of their short program, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
And this was before they got to the Kiss 'n' Cry and heard the marks that left them second to the Russians after the short program here last night.
"When we were laying there David said to me, 'I can't believe I came all the way to the Olympics to do this,' '' said Jamie Sale of partner David Pelletier, who basically planted the pair while trying to plant a kiss on her in the normally funny finish of their short program.
Funny was the desired effect. Not slapstick.
NOT THE END OF THE WORLD
It wasn't the end of the world. The top three teams in the world are 1-2-3 after the short and if the Russians, the Canadians or the Chinese win Monday's long program they win the Olympic gold medal. It's as simple as that.
In effect, what happened here last night was totally meaningless to the way this is going to work out in the end. But that doesn't make it forgettable.
First the set-up. At the end of their program, Sale pulls one of his arms down, pulls one of his knees out, pulls another arm out and then lays down in the human chair she's created. Then he flips her and throws her back and lays a kiss on her.
Well, the whole contraption collapsed.
"I think the WWF would sure like this,'' said Pelletier of the two-Canadian pile-up.
So what happened?
There are several stories.
First, Jan Ullmark.
"I think they put a little extra on the ending,'' said the Edmonton Royal Glenora coach.
"I don't think they knew what the other one was doing. She threw herself in his arms more aggressively than usual. I think they put a little more passion into doing it.''
That was to one set of reporters.
"He's been the more emotional of the two this week and she has a little more experience,'' he said of the idea that maybe Pelletier had a little more adrenalin going.
Maybe this came from the opening ceremonies. Sale & Pelletier surprised some by marching.
Pelletier's review: "It was like two pounds of adrenalin up the butt.''
Sale's version?
"It was one of those funny, freaky things.
"I'm supposed to have a surprised look on my face when he flips me. I'll bet I really have a surprised look on my face in the pictures.''
Sale said Pelletier's first reaction was to be steamed at himself. But she saw nothing but the humour.
"He's all mad at himself,'' she said, working the mixed zone solo while Pelletier did interviews in French down the line.
"He said he didn't come here to do this. But it wasn't anything that hurt us. It wasn't a jump or a throw or a spin. We skated perfect until that happened. It gave the judges something to separate between first and second.''
Sale thought her partner caught his skate in a rut.
"The ice in the middle isn't that great.''
Pelletier said it wasn't about not being first after the short program.
"That's not it. We have no problem with where we're at. We have a solid shot at it. It's just ending up on our butts like that. Like I told Jamie, I can't believe I came all the way to the Olympics to do that. The rest of it was perfect.''
Seven of the nine judges gave Russians Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze their first-place marks. Sale & Pelletier took the other two. Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao of China are third.
"I'm not disappointed,'' said Ullmark. "Not at all. They skated well. They did everything. We're in the perfect place to be.''
It's all there to go for the gold. But the Russians are there, too. "People want us to win,'' said Pelletier. "I'm born to win.''
THE BEST FOR TWO YEARS
The Canadians have been the best pair for two years, but the Russians have won every Olympic gold medal since Canada won gold in 1960 in Squaw Valley, California.
"I can't take responsibility for 40 years of Soviet Union and Russians. My shoulders aren't that big,'' Pelletier said.
Tamara Moskvina, the legendary Russian coach, was asked about her pair and their near perfect performance here last night - right to the end.
"You Americans would say tremendous, beautiful, unbelievable ... what else?... amazing. We Russians would say 'OK.' ''
At the end of the day yesterday, what are Canadians supposed to say?
No way, eh?
2002 Games Figure Skating Coverage
