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Quebec skate pair may back out
Bradet has been battling a back ailment since last summer, and aggravated the injury during training in November. The Toronto-based pair, who won the Canadian title in 1997 and placed second last year to Kristy Sargeant and Kris Wirtz, have not had a full training session in more than two months.
"I'm not overly optimistic about their ability to be there," their coach, Paul Martini, said yesterday.
Bradet has been receiving treatment for the problem and skating regularly, but cannot do any of the pairs elements which require lifting.
"He's been coming to the rink," Martini said. "But his condition is such that he's not able to lift. That's like telling a singles skater not to jump."
Savard-Gagnon, 26, and Bradet, 29, both of Baie-St-Paul, Que., were expected to be in a heated three-way battle for the gold medal at Canadians with Sargeant and Wirtz, who train near Montreal, and the impressive new pair of Jamie Sale and David Pelletier, also training in Montreal.
Martini said if Bradet's condition does not improve within the next week, he will inform the Canadian Figure Skating Association that they cannot compete.