2003 World Figure Skating Championships

27 March

Men Free

Silvio Smalun (GER), 2003 National Champion
I did not skate as well as I had hoped.  I made many errors that I didn’t
want to make.  That is too bad because we (Vlascenko & Smalun) wanted to
secure two spots for Germany for next year’s World Championships because it
will be in Dortmund  (Germany).  That is why we are here but it didn’t work
out that way.  I didn’t have my jumps. Andrejs was good but it wasn’t enough.
I had enough strength and I skated the artistic portion well. There is no real
theme for the program but I wanted to portray the opposites of good and ugly.  Even if there are technical mistakes one has to continue with the presentation. That is especially important; you have to keep on trying until the end of the program.

Andrejs Vlascenko (GER), 2003 National bronze medalist
My right leg started to hurt, the muscle… that’s why I had trouble towards
the end. Well, I sort of started right now to skate well, but the competition
is over. It has been a hard season for me with illness, injuries and changing
coaches. But now I survived it. I want to stay in for one more year and to
compete at the World Championships in Dortmund(Germany).

Kevin Van Der Perrin (BEL) 2002 World Junior Silver Medalist
(On his triple-triple-triple combination)  I am happy I am landing it all the
time.  I would be very mad if I did not.  I knew going in that I would land
it. (On the the final spin)  I was so afraid.  I concentrated very hard.  I
concentrated so much harder for the spin than on the triple-triple-triple. I
feel really good now.  The result doesn’t matter.  I know what I did. Now I
will concentrate on the quad and the triple axle for next year. I will stick
with (coach) Nikolai (Morozov) through 2006.  I admire him so much.

Stephane Lambiel (SUI), 2003 National Champion
I’m relieved that it’s over now. I was upset about my Short Program,
ashamed even. I tried to look at the competition in a more relaxed way,
more ironic. If I hadn’t done that, I would have completely gone down. I
tried to find my dreams again, to find another horizon.

Stanick Jeannette (FRA), 2001 & 2003 European bronze medalist
This (competition) is one to forget. I didn’t get into the program I wasn’t
really “in my boots”. When I came here, I had good practices the first three
days, but since Qualifying, it didn’t work anymore. At least I went for the
quad today and didn’t pop it like in Qualifying. Overall I had a pretty good
season and I don’t want to let this World Championship affect that.

Emanuel Sandhu (CAN), 2003 National Champion
It was a long week but a fun week and I’m glad it’s over because I’m tired
and now I can go home. Things did get better as the week went along.  I’ve
been trying to figure things out this season and see if I’m on the right path.
I’ve medaled in the majority of my competitions this season.  For me here
it’s been a bit of a tough week but I got through it.  I fought and fought
and didn’t let anything go so I’m real happy about that. It wasn’t my most
magical performance but I’m at that point where it doesn’t always have to be.
The quad Salchow has been perfect in practice this week but I wanted to get
the important stuff that was at the beginning of the program done so I decided
to triple it and keep things on a consistent level.  I don’t think it would
have really mattered if I had gone for it.

Ryan Jahnke (USA), 2003 National bronze medalist
Tonight was disappointing.  I really don’t know what happened.  I was
definitely not feeling flat; I was not totally settled down. I haven’t quite
figured it out yet. The entire week was good for me.  I was real positive
until this performance. I will definitely skate next year. Probably in the
next week or two I will have surgery on my left big toe to get rid of a cyst.
The team doctor lanced it twice this week.  I did not really notice it today.
I will take a short break and then back to work.
There is more for me to do.

Jeffrey Buttle (CAN), 2002 Four Continents Champion
I felt pretty good, comfortable out there.  I went for the two triple Axels
and the quad and all three of them should have been there.  The jumps were
rotated and that was the first time I fell on the Axel in a program all week.
(Adding the combination at the end triple toe/double toe)  I knew that I
needed a combination, nothing big but I got it done.

Brian Joubert (FRA), 2003 European silver medalist
The season is over, now it’s vacation! I felt well throughout my performance.
I felt some stress at the beginning, but after I landed the first quad, it was
okay. I did two quad toes without combination, as usual…. But it doesn’t
matter. I had an excellent season. Now I will do a new free program, and I
want to improve from my results next year. I was able to establish myself
among the top skaters, which is good with regards to the Olympic Games in
Turin.

Takeshi Honda (JPN), 2003 Four Continents Champion
When I missed the first quad jump combination, I was so surprised. However,
I did not give up on the whole program.  I decided I will definitely success
the 2nd quad.  When I landed Axel, I felt little shaky and being afraid of
making it combination jump.  However, I thought if I miss the combination
jump here, I would not have had any combination jumps, so I am determined.
Over all performance is good. All I have to do is just waiting for others.
Skating order does not affect my performance, but
waiting for the results is little hard.

Timothy Goebel (USA), 2002 World silver & Olympic bronze medalist
I’m so happy; this year has been very hard for me.  I was injured and hen
at the nationals I skated very bad.  To come here and skate so well in front
of a hometown crowd, I’m so happy.  I think with the way I skated tonight I
can be on the podium but what place I don’t know. The others (in final group)
are great competitors and athletes and I respect their skating.

Michael Weiss (USA), 2000 World bronze medalist
It was tough. I felt so good. I don’t know what happened. Sometimes it’s
there, sometimes it isn’t. I didn’t feel any more pressure being in my
hometown. If I had it would have shown up earlier. I had a great year, I
was really pleased with it. The quad was good in the Short Program.

Evgeni Plushenko (RUS), 2003 European & 2001 World Champion
It’s nicer to win the second time. There was a lot of pressure. Timothy
skated very well. He did two quads. I didn’t watch him skate, but I knew
what he did. It was hard, I’m very tired right now. There were a few little
things, but my knee (inflammation) has been bothering me. Today, the knee 
became all red. I didn’t get an injection, we treated it with salve and
massage. 

Chengjiang Li (CHN), 2001 Four Continents Champion
(Being the first Chinese man to be the 4th place in the World Championships)
I am very happy!!  I am so excited!!  The audience was very good.  I completed
the first three most difficult elements.  I was very very excited.  Afterwards,
I was maybe too excited, so that I missed the triple Lutz. I want to improve
next season. I believe that I have more potential and that I could have done
better. I want to improve my posture and other details.