Accessibility links

Breaking News
News

Figure Skating: Slutskaya Wins Gold at World Championships


Russian Irina Slutskaya has delighted home fans in Moscow by winning the ladies free program and the gold medal at the World Figure Skating championships.

Slutskaya, who was sidelined with heart problems last season, finished with a total of 222.71 points, more than eight points ahead of American Sasha Cohen.

Italian Carolina Kostner finished third (200.56 points) with five-time world champion Michelle Kwan of the United States fourth.

This marks the first time that Kwan has not taken home a medal from a world championships since 1996. Slutskaya had finished second to Kwan three times before beating the American in 2002.

Slutskaya's win was the third Russian gold medal at these championships. Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinin won the pairs title and Tatiana Navka and Roman Kostomarov took the ice dancing crown.

It could have been a Russian sweep, but Yevgeny Plushenko withdrew with an injury and Switzerland's Stephane Lambiel won the men's gold medal.

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.

XS
SM
MD
LG