Final List of Skaters Confirmed for Marshalls World Cup of Figure Skating
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| Michelle Kwan Photo by Paul Harvath |
(12/1/04) U.S. Figure Skating President Chuck Foster and Executive Director Val Belmonte announced today the final list of 12 of the world's top figure skaters confirmed for the 2004 Marshalls World Cup of Figure Skating in Auburn Hills, Mich., on Dec. 3. The one-day competition will be held at The Palace of Auburn Hills at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are now on sale through Ticketmaster.
The ladies field will be led by five-time World and eight-time U.S. champion Michelle Kwan (USA) and current World silver medalist Sasha Cohen (USA). It will be the first competition for both U.S. ladies since the 2004 Campbell's International Figure Skating Classic in October. Both bypassed the International Skating Union (ISU) Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series Kwan to take time off to focus on her training and Cohen to rest her severe back strain. At the Campbell's event Kwan took home the gold as well as $50,000 in prize money. Cohen finished third behind Shizuka Arakawa (JPN), the reigning World champion. Arakawa was originally slated to compete but withdrew due to illness on Nov. 29. She has been replaced by Alissa Czisny.
Rounding out the ladies field are 2002 Olympic silver medalist Irina Slutskaya (RUS), who recently won the 2004 Cup of China; 2004 U.S. bronze medalist Jennifer Kirk (USA) and 2004 Smart Ones Skate America champion Angela Nikodinov (USA). At the 2003 winter invitational, also held in Auburn Hills, Mich., the top three ladies were Kwan, Arakawa and Cohen, mirroring the results of the 2004 Campbell's Classic.
Current World champion Evgeny Plushenko (RUS) and World silver medalist Brian Joubert (FRA) will lead the men's division in Auburn Hills. It will be Plushenko's first event of the 2004-2005 season after a knee injury sidelined him from the fall invitational and the ISU Grand Prix Series. In the meantime, Joubert has been racking up medals this season, beginning with a second-place finish at the Campbell's Classic and continuing into the Grand Prix Series, where he took first at Skate America.
The competitive field will also feature 2004 U.S. champion and 2004 NHK champion Johnny Weir (USA), 2004 Skate America silver medalist Ryan Jahnke (USA) and 2004 World Junior champion Andrei Griazev (RUS). Timothy Goebel, originally scheduled to be in the event, withdrew due to injury and has been replaced by Evan Lysacek, three-time World Junior silver medalist. At the 2003 Campbell's Classic, Plushenko won gold.
At the Marshalls World Cup skaters will compete for $200,000 of prize money, part of a first-time $600,000 pot up for grabs at three linked events throughout the 2004-2005 season. The introduction of prize money marks an investment by U.S. Figure Skating to increase the level of competition and intensity at the events. Each athlete will perform one free skate in front of an international panel of five judges. Prize money will then be allocated to the top six finishers in ladies and the top six finishers in men's:
First Place $50,000
Second Place $25,000
Third Place $15,000
Fourth Place $5,000
Fifth Place $3,000
Sixth Place $2,000
The three events to award $200,000 each are the Campbell's International Figure Skating Classic in St. Paul, Minn., on Oct. 1; the Marshalls World Cup of Figure Skating in Auburn Hills, Mich., on Dec. 3; and the Marshalls International Figure Skating Challenge, location and date to be announced at a later time.
Also appearing at the Marshalls World Cup will be U.S. pairs champions Rena Inoue & John Baldwin and U.S. ice dancing champions Tanith Belbin & Ben Agosto. Both teams will perform an exhibition in between the men's and ladies competitions.
Tickets for the Marshalls World Cup are now on sale and can be purchased at www.palacenet.com, the Palace Box Office and all Ticketmaster centers. Tickets may also be charged by phone to American Express, Visa, MasterCard and Discover by calling 248.645.6666. Reserved seats will be priced at $55 and $25 and general admission tickets are $15. Special Superfan seating is available. Group discounts are available for groups of 15 or more, senior groups and scout groups by calling 248.371.2055. The event will be nationally broadcast by ABC Sports on Dec. 18 from 1-3 p.m. EST. Times are subject to change; check your local listings.
Skaters Competing at the Marshalls World Cup of Figure Skating
Ladies
Sasha Cohen (USA) 2004 World silver medalist
Alissa Czisny (USA) 2004 Smart Ones Skate America, 4th place
Jennifer Kirk (USA) 2004 U.S. bronze medalist
Michelle Kwan (USA) Eight-time U.S. and five-time World champion
Angela Nikodinov (USA) 2004 Smart Ones Skate America champion
Yoshie Onda (JPN) 2004 Skate Canada silver medalist
Irina Slutskaya (RUS) 2002 Olympic Winter Games silver medalist
Men
Ryan Jahnke (USA) 2004 Smart Ones Skate America silver medalist
Brian Joubert (FRA) 2004 World silver medalist
Andrei Griazev (RUS) 2004 World Junior champion
Evan Lysacek (USA) Three-time World Junior silver medalist
Evgeny Plushenko (RUS) 2004 World champion
Johnny Weir (USA) 2004 U.S. champion
Exhibitions
Rena Inoue & John Baldwin (USA) 2004 U.S. pairs champions
Tanith Belbin & Ben Agosto (USA) 2004 U.S. ice dancing champions
