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Russians dominate Shaky Butyrskaya captures womens' Nations Cup title
Posted: Sunday November 14, 1999 02:46 PM
GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (AP) -- World champion Maria Butyrskaya completed a near-sweep of the titles for the Russians by taking the women's event Sunday at the Nations Cup. Butyrskaya skated to the classic "Swan Lake" but was spotty in her technical elements. She stepped out of a triple flip and had trouble with landings on two other jumps. "I have two new programs and it is very difficult mentally for me since I didn't know what kind of mistakes I would make," Butyrskaya said. "I knew I would make mistakes. That was clear from the start. But it is a nice surprise for me to win." She managed marks between 5.3 and 5.7 for technique which had four good triple jumps in all. For artistry she had marks between 5.6 and 5.8. She will have to do better if he is to beat Michelle Kwan at next March's world championships in Nice. Butyrskaya, now 27, took both the European and world women's titles last season. At the worlds she became the oldest woman to take a singles title in upsetting Kwan, who was hampered by a cold in Helsinki. "It is always more difficult to keep a title than to get it the first time," Butyrskaya said. "It is difficult to complete psychologically this season. Especially when I always get questions about my age." "But in fact I am feeling still strong enough to skate very well," she said. Elena Liashenko of Ukraine was second with Irina Slutskaya of Russia. Slutskaya, a two-time European champion before Butyrskaya, failed to make the Russian team last year. After missing two jumps badly, she said she hopes to do better to regain a spot in the international championships. Russians also took the men and pairs titles. Yevgeny Plushenko completed eight triple jumps and barely missed a quad to capture the men's event. He showed improved artistry in trying to mount another challenge to compatriot Alexei Yagudin. Last season Plushenko finished behind Yagudin at the worlds, Europeans and Grand Prix finals. Guo Zhengxin of China completed quadruple jumps in both the short and long program while Plushenko touched down slightly in his attempts. Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia took the pairs event for the second consecutive year here. They had to complete everything cleanly to hold off the rising Canadian pair, Jamie Sale and David Pelletier. Canadians Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz won their first event outside of their country in seven years as they took the ice dance title with some jazzy steps to Harry Connick Jr. crooning. The next Grand Prix meet is the Lalique Trophy in Paris starting on Thursday with the Cup of Russia in St. Petersburg the following week. The top point scorers in the six-meet series qualify for the final in Lyon, France, in January.
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