1999 Worlds Pairs SP (ESPN2) | Berezhnaya & Sikharulidze Rebound; Shen & Zhao Challenge

Summary: The pairs short program at the 1999 World Figure Skating Championships in Helsinki opened one of the most competitive events of the season, with the reigning world champions under pressure from emerging challengers across Europe and Asia. ESPN's coverage focused on the recent upset at the Grand Prix Final, where defending champions Elena Berezhnaya (Елена Бережная) / Anton Sikharulidze (Антон Сихарулидзе) had been defeated by China's rapidly rising Shen Xue (申雪) / Zhao Hongbo (赵宏博), setting the stage for a wide-open battle heading into the free skate. The champions responded emphatically. Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze delivered a fast, elegant and technically secure program highlighted by excellent side-by-side triple toe loops, a soaring double twist and trademark speed across the ice. Despite a slight question over their final lift and spin, the Russians re-established themselves as the team to beat. Shen and Zhao answered with outstanding athleticism and crisp unison, but Shen's hand touch on the throw triple loop proved costly, leaving the Chinese pair in second despite another impressive performance. Poland's Dorota Zagórska / Mariusz Siudek produced one of the cleanest skates of the evening to move into third, while fellow Russians Tatiana Totmianina (Татьяна Тотьмянина) / Maxim Marinin (Максим Маринин) also impressed with elegant skating to finish just outside the top three after the short program. Several contenders saw their medal hopes dented by costly mistakes. European champions Maria Petrova (Мария Петрова) / Alexei Tikhonov (Алексей Тихонов) lost ground when Tikhonov fell on the side-by-side triple toe loops, dropping them to fourth despite otherwise polished skating. Germany's Peggy Schwarz / Mirko Müller opened the event with a missed jump from Schwarz but remained competitive, while France's Sarah Abitbol / Stéphane Bernadis and Canada's Kristy Sargeant / Kris Wirtz produced mixed performances that kept them within striking distance. Among the Americans, newly crowned U.S. champions Danielle Hartsell / Steve Hartsell recovered well after both falling on their opening jumps, while newly formed pair Kyoko Ina / John Zimmerman, coached by Tamara Moskvina, showed encouraging improvement despite Ina falling on the throw triple Salchow. Heading into the free skate, Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze reclaimed the lead over Shen and Zhao, with Zagórska and Siudek occupying third as the top contenders prepared for a decisive final showdown. --- Chapters 00:00 Opening & Pairs Short Program Preview 01:01 Peggy Schwarz / Mirko Müller (GER) 05:06 Elena Berezhnaya (Елена Бережная) / Anton Sikharulidze (Антон Сихарулидзе) (RUS) – Feature 07:44 Elena Berezhnaya (Елена Бережная) / Anton Sikharulidze (Антон Сихарулидзе) (RUS) 12:13 Danielle Hartsell / Steve Hartsell (USA) – Feature 12:58 Danielle Hartsell / Steve Hartsell (USA) 17:27 Tatiana Totmianina (Татьяна Тотьмянина) / Maxim Marinin (Максим Маринин) (RUS) 21:36 Shen Xue (申雪) / Zhao Hongbo (赵宏博) (CHN) – Feature 22:02 Shen Xue (申雪) / Zhao Hongbo (赵宏博) (CHN) 26:30 Sarah Abitbol / Stéphane Bernadis (FRA) 31:12 Dorota Zagórska / Mariusz Siudek (POL) 35:46 Maria Petrova (Мария Петрова) / Alexei Tikhonov (Алексей Тихонов) (RUS) 40:40 Kristy Sargeant / Kris Wirtz (CAN) 45:19 Kyoko Ina / John Zimmerman (USA) – Feature 48:14 Kyoko Ina / John Zimmerman (USA) 52:48 Final Standings 53:15 Elena Berezhnaya & Anton Sikharulidze Interview --- VHS60fps format (tape picture tracking issues), American coverage (commentators: Terry Gannon, Dick Button, Peggy Fleming, Leslie Visser). The 1999 World Figure Skating Championships were held in Helsinki, Finland from March 20 through 28. Pairs short program (SP) performances featured here (^): Rank Name Nation TFP SP^ FS 1 Elena Berezhnaya (Елена Бережная) / Anton Sikharulidze (Антон Сихарулидзе) Russia 1.5 1^ 1 2 Shen Xue (申雪) / Zhao Hongbo (赵宏博) China 3.0 2^ 2 3 Dorota Zagórska / Mariusz Siudek Poland 4.5 3^ 3 4 Maria Petrova (Мария Петрова) / Alexei Tikhonov (Алексей Тихонов) Russia 6.5 5^ 4 5 Sarah Abitbol / Stéphane Bernadis France 8.0 6^ 5 6 Kristy Sargeant / Kris Wirtz Canada 8.0 4^ 6 7 Tatiana Totmianina (Татьяна Тотьмянина) / Maxim Marinin (Максим Маринин) Russia 10.5 7^ 7 8 Peggy Schwarz / Mirko Müller Germany 12.5 9^ 8 9 Kyoko Ina / John Zimmerman United States 13.0 8^ 9 10 Danielle Hartsell / Steve Hartsell United States 16.5 13^ 10 --- #figureskating #フィギュアスケート #eiskunstlauf #фигурноекатание #pattinaggioartistico #patinageartistique #patinaçãoartística #kunstschaatsen