Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 25, 1994 TAG: 9402250104
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: New York Daily News
DATELINE: HAMAR, NORWAY LENGTH: Medium
While Nancy Kerrigan practiced her long program Thursday with fresh self-confidence, her top challenger, Oksana Baiul, collided with Tanja Szewczenko of Germany and suffered injuries that could hamper her performance tonight in the climactic free skate.
Baiul, the Ukrainian who trailed Kerrigan after the short program on Wednesday night, required three stitches to the inside of her right shin and strained her lower back in the crash near the boards.
"The cut is not so deep," said Norwegian Dr. Gunnar Hattevig, who examined Baiul. "She was tough, very tough. She was calm and she was crying a little bit.
"I think she can go tomorrow."
Szewczenko, who was in fifth place, lost her wind in the blindside crash between the 16-year-olds. The accident occurred while both skaters were gliding backward.
Szewczenko suffered from bouts of nausea and a bruised hip. She was helped off the ice by a coach and by Katarina Witt, who tended to both skaters as Kerrigan continued her program with a practiced smile on her face.
When Kerrigan was finished, she went over to her coach, Evy Scotvold and inquired, "Is she [Baiul] OK?"
The accident on the crowded rink was just another crazy moment of agony in an event that is supposed to symbolize refined grace. After her poor performance on Wednesday, Tonya Harding had complained that her warmup session was too crowded, with six skaters who did not know each other's practice patterns.
There were hints of other trouble as well. Members of the French delegation, who have been shut out of the judges' panel by an unlucky draw, complained that Kerrigan had been given artistic scores that were too high compared with Surya Bonaly, who enters tonight in third place.
"Surya's mother is really upset," said Annick Gailhaguet, a coach for the French team. "I think also that Surya's marks were too low for artistic."
Scotvold and the French team also disagreed about how the pressure might affect Kerrigan tonight. Kerrigan has had a history of problems with her long program, including an awful collapse at the world championships last year in Prague that dropped her from first to fifth.
"She's in much better shape with the long program now," Scotvold said. "She knows how to do it. She knows how to fight her way through it.
"Before, if something went wrong, she would lose focus. Now, she digs in harder."
Gailhaguet thought, however, that Kerrigan was feeling the stress. She will be the first to skate among the three top contenders.
"She is stronger than in Prague, but this is very hard for her," Gailhaguet said. "There is too much pressure. I would rather be in second or third than where she is."
by CNB