Meissner returns to the ice
George (The Original) Bush was president, the Internet was still a cyber-gizmo, and gas was a buck a gallon the last time there was a figure skating season without Michelle. "It's definitely weird," says Kimmie Meissner , who was 3 when the divine Miss Kwan turned up for her first senior nationals. "Ever since I started skating, she's been the person I looked up to. She's such a respectable lady, that it's sad she's not there."
The post-Olympic exit list is lengthy -- Kwan, Shizuka Arakawa , Irina Slutskaya ,Evgeny Plushenko , Tatiana Totmianina-Maxim Marinin, Tatiana Navka-Roman Kostomarov -- all either have retired or are in competitive limbo. Kwan has resumed college at 26. Sasha Cohen says she may defend her US crown in January, but she's skipping the Grand Prix season.
The planet's new ice queen is the 17-year-old Meissner, who won the world title on her first try a month after the Games. "It was definitely a surprise for a lot of people, including me," acknowledges Meissner, who'll make her competitive return in Hartford tomorrow at Skate America, where she'll face Japanese skywalker Mao Asada in a season-opening showdown.
That's how quickly the global guard has changed in the kiss-and-cry sport. The Russians, who claimed three of the four gold medals in Turin, won't be favored to win any at next year's world championships in Tokyo.
That leaves the door open for the US, which has most of its Olympians back for at least another year. Except in pairs, where the Chinese will rule, the top Americans -- Meissner, Evan Lysacek , and dancers Tanith Belbin-Benjamin Agosto -- all should contend for global crowns. They'll start the Grand Prix campaign on home ice, with a strong chance at winning three of the four events at the Civic Center.
A look at the Skate America field:
Women -- Could be a Tokyo preview with the planet's two best leapers having at each other. Meissner and Asada both have landed the triple axel and may try it in Hartford. Even if they don't, they're the clear favorites of a group that's lopsided with Americans (Emily Hughes and Katy Taylor) and Japanese (Miki Ando and Asada's big sister, Mai ).
Men -- Johnny Weir may be the three-time national champ (he competes next week at Skate Canada), but Lysacek is the world bronze medalist and the most reliable Yank. Lysacek's biggest challenge could come from Japan's Nobunari Oda , who popped up in fourth place at last season's worlds in Calgary.
Pairs -- Chinese world champs Pang Qing and Tong Jian , who would have won in a breeze, have pulled out because Pang has a kidney infection. That's a huge break for US champs Rena Inoue and John Baldwin, who figure to win their first Grand Prix event.
Dance -- Too bad that Belbin and Agosto don't make their debut for another fortnight. They would have given Bulgarian world champs Albena Denkova and Maxim Staviski a spirited go. The Americans still should make the podium with second couple Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov.
