MISS ’N’ CRY:
Falls leave Lacoste in tears,
NICE, FRANCE— If there were a world championship for tear-shedding, Canadian women would sweep the podium.
Since Joannie Rochette kissed competition goodbye, taking her poignant, grief-burnished Olympic bronze medal into apparent retirement — she does only ice shows — the landscape is again barren of female contenders on the world stage. This has become the set scene among ladies of the blade in a country that is otherwise a figure skating powerhouse. On the distaff side, with the Rochette exception, it’s been arid terrain but for the lachrymose sniffling.
Amelie Lacoste was all giddily thrilled when boyfriend Mervin Tran — the Regina-born 21-yearold who skates for Japan — had earlier finished third in pairs with partner Narumi Takahashi. But she was the picture of woe following Saturday night’s conclusion of the women’s event and the 2012 world figure skating championships.
“It’s not what I expected,” Lacoste said after emerging sodden of face from the backstage area here, torturing a Kleenex. “I’m very disappointed with my performance.”
The Montreal native pointed — as they all do — to a week of good training habits on the Cote D’azur, none of which transferred to judged venue. “Even in my warmup, I felt very comfortable. I just don’t know what happened in the program.” Well, what happened is that the 23-year-old fell twice and doubled down out of two triples, thereby shedding even the points that would have been earned had she merely attempted those elements. She did attain Level 4 scores on her combination spin and flying sit spin. “I never have trouble getting my levels in spins and footwork. Of course, that’s good, but it’s more the jumps that I’m looking forward to landing in the next competition.” Face crumpling, Lacoste added: “It’s life. We need to look forward to the next championship, work hard and gain my place again.” Lacoste plummeted from 13th after the short program to 16th overall, with a long program score of 89.23 and 138.60 combined total. For Canada to secure two female berths at 2013 worlds — hosted by London, Ont. — Lacoste had to finish in the top 10. That, of course, is no longer in the cards, which also bodes ill for the team going to the Sochi Olympics in 2014. Skate Canada had little confidence in Lacoste, who edged out veteran Cynthia Phaneuf at nationals in January. They withheld the worlds ticket —which usually is claimed by the national champion — until the two women contested a skate-off at Four Continents last month. Both failed to distinguish themselves but Lacoste was just slightly better.
The ladies field in Nice was utterly underwhelming. Last year’s victor, Japan’s Miki Ando, didn’t compete and the reigning Olympic champion, Kim Yu-na of South Korea, also took another sabbatical year pass. The only former world gold medallist to show up, Japan’s Mao Asada, failed to pull off her signature triple Axel, the program thereafter unravelling, and she finished sixth.
But the ta-da! moment finally arrived for Carolina Kostner of Italy, who captured her first world title. The elegant Kostner, 25, was bronze in ’11and has been European champion four out of the past six years. Performing in a slinky catsuit, Kostner avoided her oft-typical worlds meltdown, rattling off five clean triples, earning a free score of 128.94 and 189.94 overall. That lifted her to first from third after the short.
“It’s been 10 years since I’ve been a senior skater and today was finally my time. I am so, so, so happy.”
Silver was claimed by short program leader Alena Leonova of Russia. Japan’s Akiko Suzuki won the bronze.