SLAM! Sports
SLAM! Skating
SLAM! Stojko
COLUMNS
REVIEW
INTERACTIVE
ALSO ON SLAM!
Jennifer Robinson finishes 18th
The Moscovite, 26, laid down a perfect four minutes of dynamic jumps, including seven triple jumps, exquisite footwork and powerful spins to finally win the championship after finishing fourth in 1996, fifth in 1997 and third in 1998.
First place was worth $55,000 US.
Michelle Kwan, 18, of the United States, last year's champion, won silver and $33,000 US this time. She was the last skater and high artistic marks lifted her past Julia Soldatova.
Soldatova, 17, of Russia won the bronze medal and $22,000 US. She was the only skater in the final flight to land a triple-triple jump combination, but she also fell on a triple flip jump.
Jennifer Robinson of Windsor, Ont., finished 18th overall. Canada's champion had been 13th after the short program Friday but four significant errors put her 20th in the four-minute free skate and dragged her down in the final overall standings.
Robinson landed only three triple jumps cleanly. She fell on a triple loop, touched a second foot down on two other landings, and doubled out on her second scheduled triple Lutz.
"I'm really disappointed with the double Lutz," she said. "I really wanted to do that one.
"That's my biggest disappointment with this program. Falling on the loop was disappointing because it was unexpected. I was pretty sure I had it. That was a minor disappointment compared to the double Lutz."
Despite being 18th, Robinson could return home in the knowledge she's made great strides this season.
"Her taste buds are going, 'I can do this,"' said coach Doug Leigh. "She did a pretty good job today. She was just a sliver off."