Yagudin steals the show

Figure skating's focus returns to the ice

SALT LAKE CITY -- The men's figure-skating competition provided a welcome island of relief from the scalding heat of the pairs judging scandal that continues to dominate the news coming from the Olympics.

The results went according to form. Russia's Alexei Yagudin beat his countryman and archrival, Evgeni Plushenko, for the gold, while American Tim Goebel brought home the bronze, becoming the first U.S. man to medal in figure skating since 1992, when Paul Wylie unexpectedly took silver in Albertville.

Many in the crowd thought Goebel deserved silver. He landed three wonderful quads -- an Olympic first -- and had only one mistake, stepping out of a triple Axel. But Gene Kelly he's not, of which his American in Paris music served as constant reminder. Even the American judge, Janet Allen, placed Goebel behind Plushenko, who skated with his customary over-the-top bravado to music from Carmen. And Plushenko served up the night's single biggest thrill, nearly becoming the first skater to land a quad toe-triple toe-triple loop combination. He completed all the revolutions but stumbled out of the final loop. "He had to be really mad to try that one," Wylie said afterward, referring to Plushenko's fourth-place standing after the short program. "That was pretty cool."

On the podium and at the press conference later, Plushenko made polite about his silver medal, but he looked about as happy as a man who's run over his dog. (Plushenko has a dog, by the way. A pit bull terrier named Gold.) Look for the mop-haired Russian to return in 2006 to Turin.

The night, of course, belonged to Yagudin, the dramatic, powerful Russian expatriate who, at 21, has now added an Olympic gold to his three world championships. He landed two quads, including one on the front end of a flawless quad toe-triple toe-double loop combination, and was given an unprecedented four perfect 6.0s in presentation.

Was he perfect? Certainly not. He barely hung onto his triple flip, and he was flagging at the end of his program. But the judges gave him his 6.0s for the same reason others climb Everest: because they were there. No one was skating after Yagudin; why not use the 6.0s? Certainly, the crowd appreciated the gesture -- and if you're a judge these days, anything you can do to be loved, you'd better do. The figure-skating natives are restless and seem prepared to start burning these witches at the stake.

Look for Yagudin to turn pro. He has his gold, he hates to train, and I can't see him going through the competitive grind for four more years. He should go down as one of skating's all-time greats, the near-perfect embodiment of the masculine, athletic, theatrical artist on ice. For the last three years he and Plushenko have pushed men's skating into technical realms it had never known before, places where only one American, Goebel, has been able to follow.

Last night, the stage was theirs. It's what the Olympics is supposed to be about, after all. The athletes. They forget that sometimes in this sport.

Sports Illustrated senior writer E.M. Swift is in Utah covering the Olympics figure-skating competition for the magazine and CNNSI.com. Check back regularly for behind-the-scenes reports from Salt Lake City.

 

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