Vancouver, British Columbia — Jamie Sale and David Pelletier gave the Canadian crowd exactly what it craved a world title.
The Canadians wrapped up their incredible season Wednesday night with the pairs title at the World Figure Skating Championships. In only their third season together, they won all but one of their competitions and will go to the Salt Lake City Olympics as the favorite for gold.
"This is the best day of my life," Pelletier said.
When they saw their marks all 5.9s for artistry except one 5.8 Sale jumped up and thrust her fists in the air. It took another few moments to realize they were in first, and when they did, Sale's mouth dropped open, she put her hands on the side of her head and said over and over, "Oh my God! Oh my God!"
Two-time world champions Yelena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze finished second, the third time they've lost to Sale and Pelletier this year. Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo of China, silver medalists the past two years, were third.
U.S. champions Kyoko Ina and John Zimmerman were seventh after a program marked by uncharacteristic mistakes. Tiffany Scott and Philip Dulebohn, skating even though Scott pulled a hip flexor during warmups, were 11th.
Michelle Kwan fought off the distraction of a broken boot during warmups to take the lead midway through her qualifying group in the women's event. Russia's Irina Slutskaya, considered Kwan's prime competition, won a weak Group B.
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