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Pang, Tong win world pairs title

(AP)
Updated: 2006-03-23 09:28

In Turin, Rochette rallied from ninth to fifth. At worlds, she received a personal-best 117.12 points to edge Yukari Nakano of Japan and American Emily Hughes in Group B.

Diane Chen of Chinese Taipei performs at the World Figure Skating Championships in Calgary March 22, 2006. [Reuters]

"The Olympics helped me a lot," said Rochette, the two-time Canadian champion who was just 11th at last year's worlds. "A lot of people didn't know me before and they know me now."

They know her as a contender for Canada's first women's gold at worlds since Karen Magnuson in 1973 and the first world medal since Liz Manley won silver in 1988.

Rochette can do the math, too. She knows that Olympic champion Shizuka Arakawa of Japan and bronze winner Irina Slutskaya of Russia are not in Calgary.

"I know five minus two equals three," she said with a laugh when asked about earning a medal. "But I am not focusing on that."

If not, she was probably the only Canadian in the building who wasn't. Rochette drew the loudest cheers, by far, from the crowd of 6,520. Then she landed seven triple jumps, added balletic presentation in time to her music, good speed and deep edges that were refreshing compared to most of the 22-woman field in the first qualifying group. On one memorable spiral, she changed her edge and her upper body position at the same time.

"This was good for the confidence," she said. "I know qualifying is not real important for the final standings, but they help with the confidence."

Qualifying counts 0.25 toward the total score.

Hughes expected this to be her international debut on the senior stage, but then a little thing called the Olympics entered her schedule. The 17-year-old sister of 2002 Olympic gold medalist Sarah Hughes was an injury replacement for Michelle Kwan in Turin, and skated well in finishing seventh against a strong field.

The competition in Calgary isn't quite so accomplished, and Hughes easily could improve on her finish in Italy.

"Going to Torino gave me a lot of experience and confidence," she said. "Seventh place made me feel I deserved to be there and definitely belonged in this group."