Former Soviets Still Leading Duchesnays

Of the host country’s gold-medal chances in the Winter Olympics, the brother and sister figure skating dance team of Isabelle and Paul Duchesnay seemed to be the surest. After all, no judge would dare score any other couple higher than the Duchesnays at a competition in France, where they are as popular as croissants and Jerry Lewis.

Wrong.

The Unified Team’s Marina Klimova and Sergei Ponomarenko, two-time world champions before the Duchesnays displaced them last year, won the original set pattern Sunday night at the Olympic Ice Hall, adding to their victory Friday in the compulsory dance.

The Duchesnays finished second Sunday night to improve from third to second overall, but, in order to win the gold medal, they have to win the free dance tonight and hope that Klimova and Ponomarenko fall to third, which is hardly likely.

“It hasn’t been easy dealing with the daily pressure,” Paul said. “We’ll be glad when it’s over.”

Isabelle seemed particularly perturbed over their performance Sunday night.

While Paul was still talking to reporters in a tunnel leading to the rink, she swooped past, grabbed him by the arm and pulled him out into the cold, rainy night.