Goodwill Games
Goodwill Games
|
Report from Susan, USA: September 5, 2001, Short Program: EVGENI IS IN FIRST PLACE IN THE GOODWILL GAMES
Evgeni was the first man to skate. He was wearing a costume with a black, white and red top with fringed sleeves, white gloves, and black pants. Skating to music that was described as "Russian folk music" (although it didn't sound like that to me), Evgeni began his program with a beautiful 4/3 combination, and a beautiful triple axel. Suddenly the music changed to Michael Jackson's Billy Jean, and with a few crotch grabbing hip swinging moves, Evgeni launched into some incredible footwork. At the end of this footwork, he executed a triple lutz, but was a little forward on the landing, and two footed the jump. Then the music changed back to the slower paced music he started out with. He then executed some beautiful spins (including the Biellmann spin) with great speed and stretch, into more footwork. The music changed again to fast beat music, and he ended with sit spins in two different directions. His technical marks ranged from 5.5 - 5.8 and his artistic marks 5.7 -5.8.
Unfortunately, it was not such a good day for Yagudin, who is also near and dear to my heart. He skated to the music of "Winter", and opened his program with his combination. He did a great quadruple jump, but while trying to complete his combo, he smacked into the boards on the second jump. He was unable to recover from this, and popped open his next jump, the triple axel. After some great footwork, he touched his hand down on a triple lutz. His marks for technical merit ranged from 4.4 - 5.1. His artistic marks were 5.6 - 5.8.
The American, Michael Weiss, who has never been one of my favorites, showed good artistic impression, but predictably goofed up most of his jumps. Still he was in second place, with Yagudin third. These placements do not truly show how much better than the rest Evgeni was.
To my mind Evgeni has shown improvement in every aspect over last year. His line, edging, speed, stretch and artistic impression have all improved. His command of the ice is incredible. I am so impressed with him. If he keeps up like this all season, and doesn't get injured, he will be tough to beat in Salt Lake City.
Evgeni's marks are:
Tech 5.6 5.6 5.8 5.5 5.5 5.7 5.7
1) Evgeni Plushenko 0.5
His marks for the free skate:
Report from Susan USA:
EVGENI IS THE GOODWILL GAMES CHAMPION
The competition is finished, with Evgeni winning. He skated to his "Once Upon a Time in America" program. He opened with his famous 4/3/2 combination, which he landed with perfect control. (He showed the 4/3/3 in practice, this will probably be in his new Olympic program.) The next jump was another quad toe loop which was
well landed. During his next combination, the triple axel triple toe loop, he touched his hand to the ice on the second jump. This was the only mistake in an otherwise perfect program. He really got the crowd going with his amazing footwork, completed a second triple axel, and finished his program by completing all of his other elements. He ended up completing 2 quad jumps and 7
triples. His technical marks ranged from 5.7-5.9. His artistic marks were from 5.8-5.9. He certainly would have gotten higher marks if he had skated later in this second group of skaters.
Yagudin had another poor skate. Before he skated, they showed clips from the short program. We saw something that wasn't shown on television when this aired the first time. Yagudin was bleeding from his collision with the wall. They showed his fingers, and they were covered in blood. It wasn't clear where he was bleeding from. Anyway, Yagudin skated to his Gladiator program. He fell on his opening quad jump, and went down hill from there. He tried a second quad, but fell out of the landing. He singled his triple axel, and later tried to add another one to his program, but didn't land it. He had some more shaky landings on his other jumps. After finishing his program, he didn't wait for his marks, but headed straight for the dressing room with his coach Tatiana Tarasova. He had technical marks ranging from 5.3-5.7. His artistic marks were 5.7-5.8. I actually thought the judges were a little generous with his marks considering the number of mistakes he made.
Michael Weiss of the US was the last to skate. He debuted his new Puccini program. He actually turned in a pretty good performance. He hit his quad toe triple toe opening combination with only a slight two foot touch down on the quad. He then performed a good triple axel, triple toe combination, but singled his next planned tripe axel. He then doubled a planned triple loop, but completed the rest of his program without mistakes. His technical marks ranged from 5.6-5.8 and his artistic marks were 5.7-5.8.
Evgeni finished in first, Weiss second, and Yagudin third.
It was interesting to see Evgeni skate his Once Upon a Time in America program, and compare it to how he skated it last season. He has improved so much. He really played to the crowd, and acted his part perfectly. He also had the incredible technical difficulty. His consistency and control are just amazing. I feel that there is no one in the world that can beat him this year. He looks on target to be the next Olympic Champion. His talent is just awesome. I have been watching skating for 26 years, and the first time I saw Evgeni skate, I thought, there is a champion. He is an absolutely amazing skater. His techniacal level is incredible, but he doesn't forget the artistic side.
I send my CONGRATULATIONS to Evgeni and his family.
The songs of MJ are:
Earth Song
It was played in that order and it sound really good especially "Childhood" is very beautiful!!!!
Here is the report from Vic: Photos from the Goodwill Games
|
September 7, 2001, Free Skate: EVGENY NO.1 !!!!!!!! He won the Goodwill Games!!! 
September 9, 2001, Exhibition: At the exhibition at the Goodwill Games Evgeni performed Sex Bomb again!!!!