Medvedeva on top, Canada lead team competition
Russian 18yearold figure skater, a double world champ, betters own world mark; Canada open up sixpoint lead
GANGNEUNG: NOT even a record performance by Russian figure skater Evgenia Medvedeva could put much of a crimp in Team Canada’s pursuit of Olympic gold. Medvedeva’s mesmerising short programme Sunday almost made everything else seem ordinary. Her 81.06 score broke her previous world mark as she virtually floated along the ice, nailing every element with a combination of technical skill and artistry that only she has perfected in recent years.
The 18-year-old two-time world champion smiled broadly as a group of her countrymen chanted “well done” in the stands. Her marks actually seemed a bit low for such an overwhelming routine. “I wasn’t nervous. I was focused, maybe too much,” Medvedeva said. “I have to relax a little bit, maybe.” Imagine what she might do then.
Still, the team gold doesn’t appear in reach for the Russians — officially competing as the “Olympic Athletes from Russia.” The team has 39 points heading into Monday’s free skates in the
other three disciplines. Canada’s powerful team has 45 points, and will be favoured in free dance after two-time Olympic medallists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir laid down a superb short dance.
CANADA ON SONG
Canada also won the pairs free skate Sunday with Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford, while Kaetlyn Osmond was third in the women’s short.
While Canada, which has
stressed the importance of taking home the team gold for nearly four years after finishing second to host Russia in Sochi, the United States has been hopeful of replicating its third-place finish in 2014. That became more difficult Sunday when Italy surged within a single point, 36-35.
The difference between the two nations could come in the men’s event, where the US appears stronger with Adam Rippon against Matteo Rizzo.