2003 World Figure Skating Championships

28 March

Ladies Short

Julia Sebestyen (HUN), 2003 European bronze medalist
I don’t know what happened when I fell (skating backwards). I concentrated very hard on my jumps. So after the jumps, I did not think anything.  I think my program was good.  My jumps were all good.  I wish I could do the same thing for my Free Program.

Carolina Kostner (ITA), 2003 World Junior bronze medalist
I think it went great.  (On her triple Lutz-triple toe) You always have to believe in yourself. I remembered that in the Europeans I landed the Lutz forward but I said to myself this time I will do it.  (On competing in both junior and senior events this season)  I am pretty tired.  It’s hard to concentrate every time again.  I didn’t expect to do so well.  Probably I will only skate as a senior next season because it is too much.  It is so hard to have to keep changing the program in such a short time and to have to get used to the long Long Program again.  I did Junior Worlds and was happy with the result but I couldn’t take a break, I had to start training again.  Everything has been so nice here and I really am enjoying myself.

Joannie Rochette (CAN), 2003 National silver medalist
I’m competing in my first World Championships, and I’m so excited to be here. (On the delay) I had time to warm up all over again, and I tried not get distracted. I have a great experience and I learn from competitors like Michelle Kwan.

Ludmila Nelidina (RUS), 4th at 2003 National Championships
I was nervous when I went into the warm up. To skate in the same warm up group with Olympic Champion Sarah Hughes is a great thing. I planned a triple-triple combination, but then I did a triple-double. I didn’t even think about it. I got a lot of deductions, and I’m not sure why. (On receiving a 5.7 for presentation) I didn’t even see it! It makes me happy, of course.

Shizuka Arakawa (JPN), 2002 & 2003 Four Continents silver medalist
I think tonight performance was OK for overall.  My jumps were good. I regret the fall in the final combination spin very much.  I was not too nervous, but my blade got caught by scratched ice.  I will try to enjoy and put out the best performance of my program in the Free Skating tomorrow.

Sarah Hughes (USA), 2002 Olympic Champion
I’m really pleased with my skate.  It’s been an extremely difficult long year after winning the Olympics.  I’m just glad that I could be here.

Yoshie Onda (JPN), 2001 & 2002 Four Continents bronze medalist
I don’t know why I made such a mistake… I just don’t know…  I was good in  practice.  I was feeling OK (not too nervous like in the Qualifying Round).  I don’t know what happened to me.

Elena Liashenko (UKR), 1995 European bronze medalist
I tried to do each element as good as possible. It is very difficult to achieve a good result in this event. I’m happy with what I did. The competition is not over yet, the final Free Skating is still to come, and it will decide everything. (On beating Olympic Champion Sarah Hughes in Qualifying and in the Short Program) Each athlete wants to win, that’s the main goal. Sarah is Olympic Champion, but not in a good form right now. It’s better to beat competitors in top shape. That’s what I’m striving for.

Viktoria Volchkova (RUS), 2003 Grand Prix Final bronze medalist
My program was good overall.  I made little mistakes on my jumps, but I like it.  I really like this program.  I kept falling on my triple flip every time, but now it is OK.  I was just a little nervous, but everything worked well.  I will think about my free program tomorrow, not today.  I am done for today.

Sasha Cohen (USA), 2003 Grand Prix Final Champion
(On her fall on the triple flip)  I don’t know what happened, I just fell over.  I’m pretty disappointed.  It’s over (short program) and now I have to move on.  I want to skate well, that’s what I came here to do.  I’ll think about this (the fall) a little bit and then try to skate well tomorrow.

Fumie Suguri (JPN), 2001 & 2003 Four Continents Champion
I made a little mistake but I think it was an OK performance.  I can not say that it was a 100% program because in the Short Program each element is very important. I liked the audience very much and I was happy that I got a standing ovation.  I will try to do my best for the Free Program tomorrow.

Jennifer Robinson (CAN), 2003 National Champion
I was very happy about today’s performance.  I really had to make sure that I stood up on my foot for my flip.  This is the first time I have done this program.  We changed this program completely after Four Continents.  This was the debut and the season is over! I think it is fantastic to compete with the last warm-up group.  I had so much fun. I have never been in this position for the Short Program. 

Michelle Kwan (USA), Four-time World Champion
I take one thing at a time, it’s very important because there are eight elements; you have to make sure you execute each one. I was very determined.  My first World Championships I was in Japan (Chiba) and a young girl, now I’m an old lady trying to win the title again.  In the Qualifying Round I did a triple toe loop-single toe loop, I still have the second Long Program to do.  It’s been very enjoyable, the audience is amazing.  The audience is enjoying it so I should be enjoying it also.

Elena Sokolova (RUS), 2003 European silver medalist
(On skating after Michelle Kwan) I did not pay any attention after whom I skated. I didn’t even hear what was going on in the arena. I knew that my coach and choreographer are supporting me, and I wasn’t afraid of anything. I am almost debuting here, I have nothing to loose. I just had to go out and to it. I tried not to hear (the noise). (On her bleeding hand) I cut my hand, I don’t know where, probably on the spiral. I only realized after (my skate). This was the best performance of the season. (On replacing the loop with the flip) I risked it, and the risk paid off. (On her placement) I don’t think anything is wrong. My job was on the ice, and theirs (judges) was to judge.