Slutskaya achieves comeback victory in Cup of China

0 Comments | AFP, November, 2004

BEIJING (AFP) — Former world champion Irina Slutskaya staged a perfect comeback to figure skating when she lifted the women's title at the Cup of China, the fourth leg of the ISU Grand Prix series.

Slutskaya, who was sidelined with illness for the entire 2003-2004 season, achieved an elegant and stylish victory to the soundtrack of "Wonder, Whisper from the Mirror".

The 25-year-old, silver medallist at the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002 and world champion that year, completed a triple salchow-double loop-double loop combination to earn a total of 177.80 points.

Fellow Russian Viktoria Volchkova was second with 154.16 points, while Canada's Joannie Rochette finished third ahead of Japanese reigning world junior champion Miki Ando.

"Today ... it was...