Man in the Iron Mask - Lausanne 2002

... Alexei is introduced to the crowd ...

C : Well, if he can skate anything like he did in the short programme, it's going to be some evening!

... there's Laurie's banner again!

C : I'd go along with that ... still only 21 years of age. He's twice won the European title. Three times the World champion. Can he get that European crown back here? Alexei Yagudin skating to the Man in the Iron Mask.

... music starts ...

N : Brilliant costume.

.... ooh the tension as he comes up to the first jump!

C : OH! Mistake on the quadruple toe.

... I'd forgotten about that so got quite a surprise to see that tonight! *giggle* ... skates to the other end of the rink ....

C : Not this time though!

N : And the programme designed to just give him the air and space to do it again.

C : What about that for a combination!? Triple axel, half loop, triple salchow!

... rope ... hanging ... looking mighty fine ... oooh! nice combination there!

C : Just fantastic!!

N : Triple axel, triple toeloop ... beautiful technique and the music lifting the crowd and inspiring everybody ... and the lutz. He just flows through the jumps ... just a double loop (surprised! I call it commentators curse )

.... circular steps .... soooo good! ... what's that?! Oh my God! I don't believe it! It's a good landing on a triple flip!!!

C : Just a beautiful transition into the slow piece including the triple flip as well.

N : And the loop - putting it in again but still not getting it tonight.

... straight line steps - I like it, I like it a lot!

N : And this is music designed for an American audience - victorious and uplifting.

.... spins and ends ... nice one!

C : Did that seem like four and a half minutes to you? To me - it felt like a minute and a half! I could watch him all day! A brilliant, brilliant programme, choreographed again by Tatiana Tarasova who is just a genius. There's no doubt about it. And this man here had the ability, the technique, the charisma, the GUTS to carry it off.

N : Not as perfect as the short programme - there's more in it. (slow mos start) No, the loop wasn't there, the first quad didn't come off but the expression, the idea of a theme and the way it's put over within the framework of a figure skating competition ...

C : And what about that mistake there on the quadruple toe, he put it right to the back of his mind - it doesn't matter - down the other end of the rink ... different story! (shot of Tatiana Tarasova - very funny! ) ... hang on in there! Well it's almost as entertaining watching Tatiana!

N : You know, there was a point in the middle of the routine when I thought the intensity of the music was staying up almost too much, but then it was the end of the programme! Because, it literally - you are so right - it does not feel like four and a half minutes!

C: Amazing shot of that triple axel, triple toeloop (overhead) And I'm not even that sure the triple axel, half loop, triple salchow was scheduled. He just seemed to over - rotate perhaps slightly, wasn't comfortable in the air. But such is the ability of the man, he's able to disguise it and include another triple jump! He's a genius, and so is Tatiana and together they're a phenomenon.

... kiss and cry ...

C : Well, what a prospect in store at Salt Lake City - Yagudin, Plushenko. Plushenko of course with a groin strain decided not to come here, lost to Yagudin in the Grand Prix Finals. What must Plushenko be thinking after watching that?

N : Well they're both fighters aren't they? And they're used to being head to head and that's what makes it so exciting but this - it is the music that will be lifting an audience. The Americans know what works for them.

C : And the skating, and look at the marks - 5.9s right across the board except for that 5.8 from the Swiss judge.

N : It's a great choice. And he looks so confident, so calm. He's really growing.

C: Well done Alexei!