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Perfection Kwan earns seven perfect marks in short program
BOSTON (AP) -- For all those critics who said Michelle Kwan isn't pushing herself enough, try this: 6.0. Times seven. In a surpassing short program reminiscent of her masterful work at the 1998 nationals, Kwan earned seven perfect marks Friday night at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. "It stood on its own," Kwan said. "I think the music itself is very uplifting. Just being out there and being in the moment, I think that's what all athletes dream of, being in the sweet spot. I felt that sweet spot tonight." A spot that was even sweeter in light of the doubts some observers have expressed about the four-time national and three-time world champion. "It is always hard when people are criticizing you with jumps," she said. "You are trying your best. It's not like I am sitting at home watching TV all the time. "I forgot everything -- forgot the jumps, forgot we were at nationals ... just go out and skate." With grace, power, precision and captivating beauty, Kwan, 20, easily outscored Sarah Hughes, her main competition in the event, worth one-third of the total score. Kwan looked every bit the unbeatable skater she was at the Olympic Trials in Philadelphia in 1998, the scene of the best work of her career. She even matched the number of perfect scores for her short program in '98 and brought her career total of 6.0s to 29. "I knew it was in me the whole time," she said. Since Philadelphia, she took a silver medal at the Nagano Olympics and has won two national and two world crowns. But in none of those competitions -- or anywhere else, for that matter -- has Kwan looked so spectacular as she did in drawing a huge standing ovation at the Fleet Center. "I think it's very Michelle," coach Frank Carroll said of the routine, skated to "East of Eden." "When I hear the music and see her skate to it, I think it's very much what she has to bring to skating. She has a quality on the ice that is very, very rare." As rare as seven 6.0s. When the scoreboard flashed the scores -- she also had four 5.9s -- Carroll turned to Kwan and simply said, "Wow!" Precisely. Kwan made her triple lutz-double toe loop combination look easy. Her triple flip was just as strong, and her spirals and spins were superb. Still, she almost certainly needs to win Saturday's free skate to beat the emerging Hughes. Skating immediately after Kwan, a very tough act to follow, the 15-year-old challenger didn't falter. She did the same jumps, but her spirals weren't nearly as exquisite and the overall presentation wasn't quite as polished. Perhaps that is nitpicking, but this is figure skating, after all. "I really feel good about what I just did," Hughes said. "It's not easy skating after Michelle and even harder when she gets 6.0s." Third behind Hughes was Angela Nikodinov, who shed nearly 15 pounds, changed coaches and, it would appear, put her career back in gear. Nikodinov, 20, was smooth and strong, hitting the same three jumps, but it was not the technical stuff that highlighted her improvement. She was expressive, not stone-faced as in the past. Her emotions surfaced, and she carried the excited crowd with her. Nikodinov, who slipped to a weak fourth last year after placing a solid third in 1999, might not be ready to push Kwan and Hughes, but she has a solid shot at the third U.S. berth for March's world championships. "The whole program felt more connected, I felt really into it," she said. "It's not just facial expressions, it's loving what you do and feeling the joy of it. When you enjoy it, it shows in your face. There's an enjoyment you feel in your skin." The women's short program was, by far, the best competition of these nationals. While the men, pairs and dance have been mediocre at best, the women were sensational. And they aren't through.
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