Carter comes back in from the cold after eight years
Jacquelin Magnay in Turin, Sydney Morning Herald
Monday, 6th February 2006

AFTER an anxious wait of more than 50 hours, Joanne Carter was able to glide on the Olympic ice at Palavela, burst into a triple twisting jump and then finish with a long and glorious spiral right next to the colourful imprint of the Olympic rings.

For finally, her skates had arrived after her baggage and that of her coach, Galina Pachin, had gone missing for several days at Frankfurt airport. Still, the midnight arrival had its dramas, for their bags had been opened, and Carter's blades had loosened somewhat.

But on the rink for a practice session, alone, save for workmen in the stadium, Sydney-based Carter showed why she is in the top 12 in the world.

Her spins were tight, her jumps powerful and her speed across the rink fast.

"She is absolutely ready," Pachin said. "She has a couple of different combinations in her short program which have worked well and all of the judges and officials have complimented her on - she is in good shape."

Carter was dramatically dressed in black tights and a singlet top and said she had deliberately targeted the rings and Turin motif for her initial moves on the ice to cement the Games in her head.

The 25-year-old is still coming to grips with the fact that the long challenge to her place in the team from fellow Australian Miriam Manzano failed and that she has returned to the Games, inspired by her late father, after an eight-year absence.

"That wasn't too bad," she said brightly after the 40-minute training session.

"I was a little bit stiff, it still feels a bit weird with my blades a bit loose, but it is such a relief to be out there skating. I certainly slept better knowing my skates arrived last night."

It was an unusual sight for a lone skater to be on the Olympic rink during training times. Usually there is a traffic jam, with skaters jostling for the best position and cutting across each other to practise their jumps and steps.

But the rest of the best skaters were not due to arrive until Sunday, giving Carter free reign to practise her step manoeuvres that she is upgrading to a higher scoring level.