Slutskaya Takes Lead at Worlds

Breathing heavily and weakened by a heart ailment, Irina Slutskaya delivered an impassioned and athletic performance before a home crowd Friday to take the lead after the short program at the figure skating world championships.

She was narrowly ahead of Sasha Cohen. Michelle Kwan stayed within reach of winning her sixth world title after rallying to fifth place following a disappointing qualifying round.

“I feel really tired,” said Slutskaya, who sat out last season because of an inflamed heart lining and still takes medication for the condition.

Carolina Kostner of Italy and Miki Ando of Japan were third and fourth.

Also, Russians Tatiana Navka and Roman Kostomarov won their second consecutive gold medal in the worlds in ice dancing. Americans Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto won silver, the first U.S. medal in the event in 20 years, and Ukraine’s Elena Grushina and Ruslan Goncharov were third.

Slutskaya, the 2002 world champion, and Cohen gave energetic programs that included spins more demanding and eye-catching than Kwan’s, prowess they’re sure to emphasize again in today’s final free skate.

Slutskaya’s short program was to tango music. The only significant flaw was a loss of balance on her opening triple lutz.

Slutskaya finished less than 1.5 points ahead of Cohen, who was penalized on a triple flip and for skating past the end of her music.

“It’s so frustrating because the last spin was going so well and I was just doing it for too long,” Cohen said.

The American is less than three points behind Slutskaya in the standings that combine the short program and 25% of the qualifying round score.