Philippe Candeloro
'The 4th Musketeer'
1998 Winter Olympics Free Program
 Would
I be wrong in describing this as one of the most
eagerly awaited skating performances in history?
For once, we weren't looking forward to lots of
triples or even quads but plenty of artistry, and
now probably the most famous step sequence in
history?
Philippe skated to D'Artagnan by Maxim Rodriguez.
The programme had 7 triples, including a triple
Axel-triple Toe combination. There was plenty of
choreography, with virtually all of it either
played out towards the judges, or towards the
audience.
After the triple loop jump, Philippe skated
towards the barrier, then came "that step
sequence!". I'm not going to even attempt to
describe it, save to say that Philippe was
conveying the idea of a sword-fight "Errol
Flynn" style!
Not too surprising, there was a standing ovation,
and I've never seen so many flower girls on the
ice at one time! As one commentator remarked,"It
may not win the gold, but it's won the
hearts"
Not too surprising either that the first set
of marks were booed (Ilya Kulik did skate a
blinder though, and Stojko was still to skate).
There was a 6.0 for Artistic Presentation. No
prizes for guessing from which judge!
This was arguably Philippe's finest skating
moment, and it was moving to see him acknowledge
(by bowing on one knee and saluting him) the man
who has trained him since he was a child, his
instructor André Brunet.
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