It's been 21 years since a Canadian woman won a medal at the world figure skating championships.
Is it Joannie Rochette's time now? She is a dark horse for the women's title at this year's championships, which start tomorrow in Los Angeles at the Staples Center.
"I have yet to be on the world podium, and this is the first time in my life I've told myself I can really do this," Rochette says. "I feel like I belong out there this year."
The 23-year-old skater from Île-Dupas, Que., has skated into another realm this season, exuding confidence, style and determination.
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At Skate Canada in Ottawa, Rochette defeated former world silver medalist Fumie Suguri of Japan by 25 points, rendering speechless Elizabeth Manley, the last Canadian woman to win a world medal (silver), in 1988.
Rochette went on to defeat reigning world champion Mao Asada of Japan by 13 points at the Trophée Eric Bompard in France in November. Asada wasn't perfect at that event, but neither was Rochette.
At the Four Continents championship in Vancouver in February, Rochette defeated Asada again in the short program. In the long program, Rochette defeated world bronze medalist Kim Yu-Na of South Korea, who is coached by Brian Orser in Toronto and reigns over the women's ranks this year.
When Rochette won the silver medal at Four Continents, behind Kim and ahead of Asada, she established herself as a major threat at the world championships. She's finished ahead of everybody who matters at various points of the season.
"She's just doing better and better," said Louis Strong, skating development director for Skate Canada. "She's got to be feeling really good about herself. She just needs to go quietly about her business. She has good vehicles, and she's looking great and skating great. She just needs to play it smart."
Asada and Kim have each won three of their six head-to-head matchups in the senior ranks. A dust-up involving the skaters adds some spice to the world contest. Kim told a South Korean broadcaster that skaters from other countries have obstructed her during warm-ups, particularly at the Four Continents. A South Korean voiceover suggested that Japanese skaters had crossed her path, and the Japanese federation reacted by denying its skaters acted with intent.
"I think it's okay for me not to have that extra pressure," Rochette said. "Especially in Asia, the media are really interested in figure skating. It's all good for me that it's not so much pressure on my shoulders."
The Europeans did not participate in the Four Continents, but the women's event at the European championships was lacklustre. Laura Lepisto of Finland won the event with simple jump combinations over favourite Carolina Kostner of Italy, the world silver medalist from last year.
Kostner bombed in the short program and won the long program without getting credit for a spin. But Kostner's strong point is her speed, and she builds momentum over the season, usually peaking at a world championship. Judges seem to adore her.
The jewel of the group is Kim, whose athletic and expressive abilities reached their zenith in the short program at Four Continents, where she won the short program by 5.34 points.
Kim holds the world record for most points in both the short program (72.24) and long program (133.70). Asada holds the record for total points in a competition (199.52).
Kim came the closest of anybody this year to Asada's total record by scoring 193.45 at Skate America last October at a time when most skaters are just trying to get the wrinkles out of their routines.
At Four Continents, both Rochette and Asada drew higher technical marks than Kim in the long program, after Kim under-rotated several jumps and fell once.
Rochette will compete in Los Angeles this week without a triple-triple jump combination in the short program, although she does do a triple-triple sequence (steps between the jumps) late in her long program.
She's been trying for two years to get a triple-triple jump combination into her routine, to boost her competitiveness internationally. Whether the effort has been worthwhile is debatable.
There have not been many clean, good triple-triples this season in international competition. Kim is the most consistent of all, having landed six of them (triple flip, triple toe loop). She executed the best one at the Grand Prix final and was awarded 11.50 points.
Kostner landed only one all season, at Cup of Russia, where she received 11.30 for the same combination that Kim does.
Miki Ando of Japan landed a more difficult triple Lutz-triple loop at Cup of China (worth 11.80 points) but couldn't finish the rotations on any of the others she tried all season.
U.S. teenager Rachael Flatt landed a triple flip-triple toe loop at Cup of Russia when she won a silver medal.
Asada has not landed a clean triple-triple internationally all season, tending to under-rotate the triple loop on the end of her combo. It's hard to argue against an athlete who can do a triple Axel jump combination; she's the only one doing it this year. At the Grand Prix final, Asada got a 10.30 for that move, the only time she's landed it this year in international competition.
At first blush, it appeared that Rochette had done her first triple flip-triple jump combination at the Canadian championships, but she under-rotated the second jump and earned only 5.80 points for it, not enough to help her at a world championship.
Cleverly, Rochette switched to a triple Lutz-double toe loop combination for Four Continents and landed it so cleanly, judges gave her enough bonus marks to make it worth 8.10 points.
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OTHERS IN THE HUNT
MAO ASADA, JAPAN
Reigning world champ won Grand Prix final with a free skate that included two triple Axels, a jump so difficult few women try it. ... Had a rare poor outing at Four Continents, yet still finished third. ... Has won three successive Japanese titles, a difficult task.
KIM YU-NA, SOUTH KOREA
Topped a powerhouse field at Four Continents, held in what will be the Olympic arena. ... Bronze medalist at past two worlds. ... Exciting skater with great spins and spirals, quick but precise jumps. ... Has the edge on Asada in artistry, but isn't quite as athletic. Does do a triple-triple combination.
CAROLINA KOSTNER, FRANCE
Reigning world silver medalist from Italy. ... Woefully inconsistent. ... After winning European title in 2007 and '08, finished second this year after a faulty short program. ... Distant third to Asada and Kim at Grand Prix final.
New York Times News Service
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THE SERIES
Globe and Mail reporter Beverley Smith previews the 2009 world figure skating championships, which start tomorrow and run through Saturday in Los Angeles.
Friday
Pairs
Saturday
Men's
Today
Women's, Dance (Page 5)
More figure skating
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