program and third in the free skate to repeat as U.S. bronze medal- ist with a score of 230.32. His free skate, to music from Te Untouchables soundtrack, was solid, highlighted by an opening triple Axel, a triple Lutz-triple toe combination, three high level spins and some nifty footwork. He did fall on his second triple Axel and stumbled a bit on his choreographed step sequence, which Miner normally considers a highlight of his program. “I was pretty happy with the program in general; I got through
it,” Miner, 21, said. “I lost my focus at the end a little bit and I’m a little disappointed in myself for that, but I’m still proud of what I did.” His return to the medal podium, Miner said, is a reward for
all his hard work. “Last year was great, but I came out of nowhere and I wasn’t
expecting it,” Miner said. “So this year I had a little bit more ex- pectation on my shoulders. It was cool to be able to go skate the way I know how and go out there and sort of legitimize last year by skating another good competition at nationals.” Armin Mahbanoozadeh, who recently moved from Delaware to Colorado to train, turned in two good performances to finish fourth.
Tird after the short program, he landed seven triples in his
free skate to music from Kill Bill. His final score was 224.63. With their top placements, Abbott and Rippon earned the
two World Team positions for the men, something that wasn’t lost on the champion following the competition. “I’m blown away, to share the podium with Adam and to be
going to Worlds …,” Abbott said. “And then we have Alissa (Czis- ny), who is the silver medalist and Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue, who were third. We all train together (at the Detroit Skating Club) and we are all going to Worlds together. “For all of us at the rink to all be going to Worlds together is such an amazing thing. I think it’s going to make it so relaxed and comfortable, like we are at home.”
SCARY MOMENT FOR ABBOTT’S FAMILY
U.S. champion Jeremy Abbott discovered after his spectacular
free skate that his stepfather, Allen Scott, had suffered heart prob- lems while watching Abbott perform just a few feet away. Scott was taken by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment. “I had no idea,” Abbott said of what had transpired during his
free skate. “I was just so focused on my program and what I had to do so when I found out I was actually surprised that I wasn’t distracted by all that commotion.” Scott blacked out and was convulsing for about 15 seconds,
according to Abbott’s mother, Allison Scott. “Tere was a doctor and nurse just rows behind us who were
there within seconds and stayed with Allen until the paramedics came,” Allison said. “He was coherent within a minute or so but still disoriented.”
Allison said Allen suffered atrial fibrillation, which is the most
common type of irregular heartbeat. Te condition is associated with palpitations, fainting, chest pain and congestive heart failure. He spent three days in the hospital in San Jose. Allen is back home in Colorado Springs, Colo., where he con-
tinues to receive medical care. Abbott’s sister, Gwen Abbott Asmussen, authored an account
of the frightening episode titled “Four Minutes,” which can be found on the SKATING magazine blog site.
18 MARCH 2012
For the first time as a senior at the U.S. Championships, Adam Rippon put it all together and captures the silver medal and World Team berth.
Ross Miner proves again he belongs in the conversation of elite U.S. men’s figure skaters by winning his second consecutive U.S. bronze medal.
PHOTO BY EZRA SHAW/GETTY IMAGES
U.S. FIGURE SKATING PHOTO
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