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France’s Joubert Skates to World Title
Brian Joubert on Thursday won the first gold for France in men’s figure skating in the last 42 years. The victory seemed an easy one, but it does not mean that figure skating has got a new undisputed leader after three-time world champ Evgeny Plyushchenko announced a year’s sabbatical.
Brian Joubert had led after Wednesday’s short program and was a class of his own with a flawless routine at the world figure skating championships in Tokyo. Japan’s Daisuke Takashi and Switzerland’s Stephane Lambiel beat him on each set of marks in their free programs, but the enormous lead the French had built on Wednesday was enough for him to keep the lead.
“I didn’t attempt the second Quad because I wanted to give the audience a clean program,” Joubert said after his free program where he showed one Quad and six triples. “I worked for this gold. It’s been a great season, and I gave it everything I had tonight.”
Daisuke Takashi broke down in tears after finishing his breath-taking free program, which secured him a silver in the highest-ever finish by a Japanese male skater. After a bitter disappointment in his short program two-time defending champion Stephane Lambiel emptied his arsenal on Thursday to snatch a bronze. Czech Tomas Verner outshone his more experience rivals, climbing to number 4.
Joubert’s total 240 points is a clear indication that a real leader in men’s figure skating has not emerged yet. Last year, three-time world champion Evgeny Plyushchenko scored as much as 258 points at the Olympics in Turin.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Mar. 23, 2007
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