Figure skating

U.S. women favored for a sweep at worlds

WASHINGTON -- Seems like we have seen this before -- perhaps in Salt Lake City little more than a year ago.

In the 2002 Winter Olympics, Sarah Hughes' stunning free skate catapulted her from fourth to women's figure skating gold. She beat a field that included renowned countrywoman Michelle Kwan, a heavy favorite at those games, and another American teenager, Sasha Cohen.

Not to mention Russia's Irina Slutskaya, who went on to win the '02 world championship, and Japan's rising star, Fumie Suguri.

All except Slutskaya are back for the World Figure Skating Championships that begin today with men's qualifying and the pairs short program. What should be a scintillating women's event starts with qualifying Wednesday.

For the men, Salt Lake City winner Alexei Yagudin, a four-time world champion, is out with a hip injury. Fellow Russian Evgeni Plushenko is favored over struggling Americans Tim Goebel and Michael Weiss. But the women's competition, even without Slutskaya, should be grand.

"I think the American public seemed to enjoy Salt Lake City and the level of the American ladies' skating there," said Hughes, whose season has been shortened by a leg injury. "And this will be just as entertaining. And just as fierce."

It will be particularly fierce among the Americans, who have not swept since 1991 with Kristi Yamaguchi, Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan. The current trio is stronger.

"We are the American team," says Hughes, who was second at January's nationals to Kwan, who won her seventh U.S. crown and fifth straight. "There is a great amount of respect; we've been through a lot together. I think we are all confident in who we are and the skaters that we are."

They have not been through much together this season. While Kwan chose to take it easy and Hughes was hurt, Cohen was the busiest -- winning Skate Canada and Lalique Trophy before beating Slutskaya at the Grand Prix.

They all are chasing Kwan, 22. A four-time world champion, she has been the most dominant skater of her era.

"After I finish competing, maybe when I'm a pro or a grandmother, I'll be able to sort of look at what I did in skating," Kwan says with a laugh. "Right now, it is hard to say, 'Just one more, Michelle.' It doesn't help me get any further."

Kwan, the most decorated U.S. skater at worlds, has won at least silver every year since 1996.

The ISU and local organizers have increased security because of the war in Iraq, but there are no plans to postpone or cancel the event.

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