Short shock for Meier

A disappointed Meier reads the judges' marks Keystone

Swiss figure skater Sarah Meier is facing an uphill battle to qualify for next month's Winter Olympics after a disappointing short programme at the European Championships in Lausanne.

After missing a triple flip during Friday’s penultimate stage, the 17-year-old from Zurich has now slipped to 13th place in the standings, three places short of the top ten finish needed to guarantee an Olympic spot.

“I don’t really know why I missed the flip,” a visibly frustrated Meier told swissinfo after coming off the ice. “I had felt good (coming into the short programme) and I wasn’t particularly nervous.”

Meier refused to blame her below-par performance on the sprained ankle which put her out of action at the end of last year, although she admitted to a certain rustiness after only returning to her training after Christmas.

Not yet consistent

“I don’t feel the ankle injury anymore, it doesn’t hurt,” the young star told swissinfo. “But I’ve only been back in training for three weeks now, so that’s why I’m not yet consistent.”

The disruption caused to Meier’s training as a result of that injury could yet lead the Swiss Olympic association to ease their qualifying demands, but Meier herself is still hoping to avoid that scenario.

“I have to skate a clean programme in Saturday’s free skate and if I give it 100 per cent I could perhaps still make the top ten,” Meier vowed. “I don’t want to hope (for leniency from Swiss Olympic). I just want to skate my best and leave them with no choice but to send me.”

While Meier faces a daunting challenge just to make it to Salt Lake City, some of the leading candidates for Olympic medal glory appear to be peaking at just the right moment.

The women’s short programme was dominated by the big names of the Russian team on Friday, with Maria Butyrskaya, Viktoria Volchkova, and Irina Slutskaya holding the top three positions going into Saturday’s decisive free skate.

by Mark Ledsom, Lausanne