Friday, February 22, 2002
A 'cool' evening for Robinson
By STEVE BUFFERY -- Toronto Sun
SALT LAKE CITY -- Jennifer Robinson was pumped last night after watching the Canadian women's hockey team.
An hour or so before she took to the ice for the free skate program at the Olympic Games, the Barrie-based skater watched the Canadians edge the USA 3-2 to win the gold medal.
"I brought my hockey jersey (to the rink), and I was wearing it backstage while I was warming up," Robinson said. "It was like 'Canada won!' And there were Americans everywhere. I went `Canada won! Whoo!' We were so excited. It was very cool."
So was her program. The five-time Canadian senior champion dazzled the audience with her romantic and moving Liebestraum program, a story that depicts a bride as she walks down the aisle, an appropriate program given the Windsor native will be married this September to skating coach Shane Dennison.
BREAKTHROUGH
The result of her effort was a breakthrough seventh-place showing at these Olympics -- the top showing by a Canadian in women's singles at a Games since Elizabeth Manley won a silver at the 1988 Calgary Olympics.
Robinson landed six triple jumps, although she fell attempting a second triple lutz. But all in all, it was a fine effort.
Robinson, 25, scored marks as high as 5.6 to 5.0 for technical merit and scores ranging from 5.3 to 5.6 for presentation.
"I was really happy with that. I was very disappointed about the second lutz because I had it," she said. "I had it. I was aggressive with it and it was there."
In the stands was a who's who of Canadian skating which cheered her on, including one of her heroes, 1988 Olympic silver medallist and former world champion Brian Orser.
"I was thinking about Brian before my performance started," she said. "I know he was in the stands and I saw him yesterday at Canada Olympic lodge. He had his Olympic moment in 1988, I was watching on TV, I think it's just the coolest thing ever that he was in the stands watching me have my Olympic moment.
"That was like the best, the best, the best, the best, ever."
Robinson, who was hoping to nail a triple salchow/triple loop for the first time in her career but backed off after having a bit of trouble with the opening salchow, will now go on to the world championships next month in Nagano, Japan.
"Hopefully the judges look at me and regard me as a top five finisher at the world championships," she said.
"That's something I'm working towards."
Robinson has not decided whether she will continue after this season, but after her special skate last night, there's a good chance she'll return.
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2002 Games Figure Skating Coverage
