A Supreme evening

(April 7, 2003)
It was a great evening for Canada's Synchronized Skating Champions, Les Suprêmes.

Les Suprêmes, who finished fifth at last year's world meet, skated a precise and intricate free program to take home the bronze medal at the 2003 World Synchronized Skating Championships, which were held April 3-5 in Ottawa, Ont.

Les Suprêmes, referred to as Canada I at the event, were in first-place after the short program, but outstanding performances by both Sweden I, Team Surprise, and Finland I, Marigold Team Unity, were enough to overtake the Canadian team in the free skate. Team Surprise won the World title, and Marigold Team Unity, last year's World Champions, captured the silver medal.

"We can't ask for more," said Benoît Venne, Les Suprêmes' head coach, who was very pleased with his team's performance.

Les Suprêmes, who train in St-Leonard, Que., were awarded marks ranging from 5.3 to 5.8 for technical merit and 5.6 to 5.9 for presentation.

But it was Team Surprise who received the highest marks of the evening. In addition to handing out marks ranging from 5.6 to 5.9 for technical merit, the judges awarded two perfect marks of 6.0 to Team Surprise for the presentation of the program, which was skated to Andrew Lloyd Weber's Bombay Dreams.

Marigold Team Unity also had a very impressive free skate. The team's program, which was performed to The Circle of Life from The Lion King, was partially inspired by former teammate, 18-year-old Sanna Kanervo, who was a member of last year's World Championship team and had been named to this year's team, but died suddenly shortly after celebrating the team's victory last year.

The sellout crowd of 7,550 at the Civic Centre was very supportive of all the teams, and the red and white colours of the maple leaf were very prominent.

Canada II, Fusion, who train in Toronto, Ont., finished in eighth-place in the free program, which placed the team eighth in the overall standings.