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Mahbanoozadeh Wins JGP Gold in Lake Placid
9/9/2007
Reprinted from icenetwork.com
(9/8/07) Mahbanoozadeh, a 16-year-old from Fairfax, Va., stood on the top spot on the podium Saturday night in the rink where miracles happen, sporting a grin so wide you thought his face might break in two. The boy with the impossibly long name had just heard the "Star-Spangled Banner" played to celebrate his runaway victory in his first International Skating Union event.
"It was definitely my personal best - by far - in both the short and long programs," said Mahbanoozadeh, who performed his four-minute routine to Khatachurian's Spartacus. "Everything went well except for a bobble on a double Axel. I think I was a little slow on that," Mahbanoozadeh continued. "I was pleased with the triple Lutz to triple toe. That's new for me."
Mahbanoozadeh, who has been taught by Traci Coleman for his entire career, executed seven triple jumps. His first spin, the flying change foot sit, earned a level four and his two other spins were level threes. Both step sequences were level twos.
As U.S. novice champion, Mahbanoozadeh was entered as the third American in the Junior Grand Prix in Lake Placid, but the new boy on the block eclipsed the 14 other competitors from 11 countries. He finished 11.79 points ahead of the silver medalist, another 16-year-old American, Kanallakan, from Colorado Springs, Colo.
©2007 Ice Network, LLC
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