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Tuesday, March 31, 1998
Bourne, Kraatz second in compulsory
MINNEAPOLIS (CP) -- Canadian champion ice dancers Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz were placed second by the judges after the first of two compulsory dances at the world figure skating championships today.
Anjelika Krylova and Oleg Ovsyannikov of Russia were first. Marina Anissina and Gweldal Peizerat of France were third.
This was a clear signal Bourne of Chatham, Ont., and Kraatz of Vancouver will be on the worlds podium for the third consecutive year.
At the Olympic Winter Games six weeks ago, Bourne and Kraatz were placed fifth by the judges for their first compulsory, and they wound up finishing fourth overall.
Traditionally, the world meet that follows an Olympic figure skating competition is a time for rights to be wronged.
For example, Canadian star Elvis Stojko, who is not competing here this week, was sixth at the 1992 Olympics when many viewers felt he should have been placed higher. At the 1992 worlds, he was moved up to third in the final standings.
After an outcry over the Olympic dance judging, the panel here, which is a new group of nine, appears convinced that Bourne and Kraatz deserved better.
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