Top favorites Tatiana Navka and Roman Kostomarov of Russia
closed towards the gold medals of the ice dancing as they secured
the first place after the original at the Turin Winter Olympic
Games?on Sunday.
Navka and Kostomarov, who ranked second in the compulsory, put
out a solid performance in the original with a combination spin, a
curve lift, a diagonal step sequence and a rotational lift. The
two-time world champions scored 61.07 points (30.39 element
score/30.68 program component score) to clinch the first place with
a combined total of 99.27 points.
"We came here for the gold medal and we are quite confident for
the next free dance because that is our strong field," said Navka
after the original competition.
Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto of the United States convinced
with an elegant performance to earn the second place with a total
result of 97.89 points.
World bronze medalists Elena Grushina and Ruslan Goncharov of
Ukraine were also within the striking distance of the podium with
96.68 points, which gave them a third place after the compulsory
and original dances.
"We have to wait for the free dance for which we chosen Pter
Gabriel's music. We really like his music and have wanted to skate
to it for some years," Grushina said.
Barbara Fusar Poli and Maurizio Margaglio of Italy, who claimed
the first place after the compulsory dance, stepped out of the top
six on Sunday as they committed a mistake in the last rotational
lift when Poli fell on the ice. They came in the seventh with a
total result of 90.51 points.
"Yes, we were too far from the top place now, but I can tell you
that our fault was not due to the pressure," Margaglio said.
"Anyway, we will keep trying towards the medal tomorrow," added
him.
Poli and Margaglio upset Navka and Kostomarov in the compulsory
to clinch the top place on Friday. The Salt Lake City Olympic
bronze medalists retired in 2002 but came back for the Turin
Games.
Competition was tough in the original dance as the difference of
points in the compulsory between the top six couples was small.
Poli and Margaglio's lead over Belbin and Agosto in sixth place was
only 1.42 points.
After Sunday's original dance, the gap between top six couples
has been extended to 7.47 points.
(Xinhua News Agency February 20, 2006)