MasterCard Skate Canada International, the second of six qualifying events of the Grand Prix of Figure Skating, continued Saturday in Mississauga with the Ladies and Men Free Programs (final results and standings attached).

Men

Three-time World Champion Alexei Yagudin of Russia had some scores to settle. After loosing to Timothy Goebel (USA) last week at Skate America, and despite the fact that it was his non-scoring event, Yagudin wanted to do much better at Skate Canada. Sitting in first place after the Short Program, the Russian skated last and produced a powerful performance set to the "Gladiator" soundtrack. This program was not to be beaten in Mississauga. The 20-year old opened with a quadruple toeloop-triple toeloop combination and reeled off seven more clean triple jumps. When he landed the last jump, a triple salchow, he raised his fist in triumph. The young Russian had the audience on their feet during his last spin. "I feel great now!" Yagudin commented. "But I was so scared to skate last and thought of what had happened at Skate America (where he missed his two quad toeloop attempts). "I couldn't have skated better emotionally, but technically I could", Yagudin said. He scored 12 points and will compete again at Trophee Lalique in France later this month.

1996 World Champion Todd Eldredge (USA) went for the quadruple toeloop in his routine to "13th Warrior", but had to touch down with his hand. He didn't give up after this mistake and went on to complete five clean triples and excellent spins. "I was really pleased to go out there and to skate as well as I did. Moving up from third last week (at Skate America) to second, is moving up the right direction", he laughed. Eldredge scored 9 points and has to wait if his 16 points overall will be enough to qualify for the Final.

World Junior Bronze Medallist Matthew Savoie (USA) pulled up one spot after the Short Program and claimed the bronze medal. "I wasn't particularly happy with the jumps, but very pleased with my artistic expression", he said. Savoie started well with a triple salchow and triple axel-double toeloop combination, but later stepped out of a triple flip and fell on his second triple axel. The 20-year old scored seven points and will compete again at Cup of Russia in St. Petersburg. Two-time Four Continents Champion Chenjiang Li from China was not in top form and finished a disappointing 9th after making several errors.

Ladies

World Silver Medallist Irina Slutskaya of Russia upset yet again three-time World Champion Michelle Kwan (USA) and took the gold medal in the Ladies event. However, both skaters made mistakes in their programs. Slutskaya tried the triple lutz-triple loop combination but fell on the second jump. The Muscovite is the only woman to have landed this combination in competition so far (at the Grand Prix Final in Lyon last season). Overall, in her playful "Don Quixote" program, she pulled off six triples, a high double axel and impressive fast, well centered spins. Kwan two-footed her opening triple loop, doubled the flip and stumbled later in the program while she was just skating. Although her program "Song of the Black Swan" featured five clean triple jumps Kwan looked less dynamic than Slutskaya and this time she had to settle for the silver medal. "I'm really happy that I won tonight and that I went for the triple lutz-triple loop in my first competition this season", said a radiant Slutskaya. "I will continue to work on it and on another combination with the triple salchow and I guess I have to think of some new element as well" she indicated. Kwan was disappointed with her performance. "I wasn't really pleased with my program. I think I can do a lot better. I have to go home and knock some sense into my head", Kwan commented. "When you start a competition you've got to be more aggressive."

The bronze medal went to Fumie Suguri (JPN) who was already third after the Short Program. The Japanese landed five triples and only fell on the last one, which was a salchow. "I wasn't as nervous as yesterday", she said. Suguri was handicapped by a tendentious in both ankles, but didn't let it show.

Kwan scored a total of 21 points as a result of her two Grand Prix events and is the first Lady to qualify for the Grand Prix Final in Tokyo, Japan. Skate Canada was a non-scoring event for Slutskaya, who will be skating for points at Cup of Russia and NHK Trophy. Fumie Suguri now has 7 points.

MasterCard Skate Canada concludes on Sunday with the Free Dance.

For further information please contact:

Grand Prix of Figure Skating & Final				Master Card Skate Canada Internationa
Aline Bussat, ISU Media Coordinator				Laurie Chatigny, Press Officer 
Tel:	+41 21 612 66 66					+1 905 502 93 60 (press room)
Fax:	+41 21 612 66 77					+1 416 230 78 38 (mobile) 
E-mail:	 bussat@isu.ch	

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