PARIS, 17 November 2003 — World champion Yevgeny Plushenko and US teenager Sasha Cohen glided to gold at the Trophee Lalique, the fourth round of the seven-leg ISU Grand Prix figure skating series, here on Saturday.
Cohen, 19, winner of Skate America and Skate Canada, lead from start to finish to successfully defend her title and in the process complete a hat trick of Grand Prix wins this season.
Her Swan Lake free skate claimed gold ahead of Japan’s Shizuka Arakawa and Hungary’s Julia Sebestyen.
The 21-year-old Plushenko, already winner at Skate Canada, had been leading after Friday’s short program and wrapped up his first victory in Paris with a free skating routine.
The Russian champion included quadruple, triple and double toeloop jumps to come in ahead of Belgian Kevin van der Perren.
Last year’s winner Michael Weiss had to settle for third after the US veteran fell twice, while Van der Perren played it safe with an uncomplicated but faultless routine which earned him bonus points under a new experimental judging system.
Japan’s Daisuke Takahashi fell to fifth after placing second following the short program. China’s Dan Zhang and Hao Zhang won pairs gold ahead of Russian favorites Tatiana Totmanina and Maxim Marinin, with Americans Tiffany Scott and Philip Dulebohn in third.
