Meissner in Fourth Place After Falling on Triple Lutz

Posted on Saturday, November 18th, 2006 at 2:17 am

World champion Kimmie Meissner fell on her opening jump and was in fourth place in the women’s competition at the Trophee Bompard figure skating competition in Paris yesterday.

Kim Yu-na of South Korea, 16, was in the lead with 65.22 points at the fourth event of the Grand Prix series. She narrowly led Skate America winner Miki Ando of Japan, who had 65.02.

Meissner fell attempting a triple lutz.

“Going into it I rushed a little bit and I was a little bit outside,” Meissner said. “And I fell down.”

Meissner, 17, said the last time she fell on a triple lutz was one year ago — at this competition, where she finished fifth.

“But this time was a better fall,” Meissner remarked.

Skating to music from “Moulin Rouge,” Kim scored high marks in the jumps with a good triple flip and triple toe loop combination, as well as a big triple loop that earned extra points.

On the men’s side, Brian Joubert took the lead with a near-flawless short program.

Associated Press