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French Olympic skaters' exhibition -- c'est magnifique! By
Andrea Nixon
A sold-out crowd at the Eccles Ice Center got a sneak preview of the Olympics Monday night as the French figure skaters presented an exhibition practice session. More than 1,200 people attended the fund-raising event, forking over $40 per ticket for more than an hour of entertainment featuring four members of the French Figure Skating Team. The evening began with ice dancers Marina Anissina and Gwendal Peizerat posed motionless on the ice. As soon as their music -- introduced by Martin Luther King, Jr.'s famous line, "I have a dream" -- sounded throughout the rink, the pair sprang to life. The audience watched in awe as the two presented the routine they will perform at the Olympics later this month. Spectators were reminded the event was a practice session, not a full-fledged performance, by the breaks in between segments in which the dancers received instruction from their coaches and watched instant replays on video. The French Olympians were impressed by both the high quality of the Ice Center and the enthusiasm and support they have received from the people of Cache Valley. "Everywhere we've been we've been treated with respect," said Peizerat. "We've been really welcome. It's something we felt right away when we came here." Anissina agreed. "We feel really good here," she said. "We feel welcome and don't feel a lot of the pressure." Asked if they were nervous about the competition in Salt Lake City, the skaters said no. "It's more relief than nervous," explained Peizerat. "Release. It's like this energy inside us ready to pop out." Both said they are excited for what could happen in Salt Lake City. They also said it's good to finally be in Utah competing in the Games. It takes a lot of hard work to make it to the Olympics, and Peizerat said he and Anissina sometimes train up to nine hours a day. "But it's not only work every day, it's years of work behind us to get there," he said. Anissina and Peizerat have been competing together for 10 years and were recently crowned European champions. They have also won gold medals in the French and World championships and a bronze medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. When the ice dancing competition begins in Salt Lake City next week, spectators should have no trouble recognizing the pair. Not only are they highly favored to contend for the gold, but Anissina has another distinguisher: her bright orange hair. "It's like a trademark," she said with a laugh. "It's like a normal thing for me. I can't imagine my hair brown." Figure skaters Laetitia Hubert and Frederic Dambier, who compete as individual figure skaters, also spent some time on the ice Monday night. Spectators watched and cheered as they struggled to perfect their different moves, exploding into applause when Hubert nailed a difficult jump. Local youth also had an opportunity to participate in the event. The Logan High School band donned black dresses and suits as they played the French national anthem, a song they learned especially for Monday night. The students saw their performance as an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. "It's so exciting to be part of the Olympics," said freshman flute player Megan Bitner. "It's beyond words to have even a small part." Ten-year-old Aleisha Bohm of Mendon and 11-year-old Catherine Summers of Logan were the flower sweepers for the evening, gathering the roses that were tossed onto the ice after each performance. Both said it was "an awesome experience" and enjoyed seeing the Olympians up close. "I gave them the flowers and then (Peizerat) said, 'merci' and kissed me on the cheek," said Bohm. Members of the North Logan Youth City Council were also on hand selling programs for the Ice Center.
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