Meissner's agenda: fun, clean program

Md. teen savors the atmosphere before competing

Figure skating

Turin Olympics

Winter Olympics

TURIN, Italy -- Kimmie Meissner must be channeling Nancy Kerrigan.

Meissner, who skates her short program tonight in her first Olympic competition, says her goal is to "have fun, skate clean and not freak out."

Women's short program Tonight, 8, chs. 11, 4

Meissner's Program

The elements of Kimmie Meissner's short program, which she will perform tonight:

Triple lutz-triple toe combination

Triple flip with footwork

Layback spin

Spiral sequence

Double axel

Combination spin with change of position and change of foot

Straightline step sequence

Flying spin

Music

From Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances

Length

2 minutes, 50 seconds

MEISSNER'S FAVORITES

Don't call her Kimberly or Kim.

It's Kimmie now and Kimmie for the foreseeable future.

"Forever," she says, firmly. "Kimberly, to me, is too formal. If I'm in trouble, my mom calls me Kimberly, and then I know I'm in some big trouble. And Kim is just like, I never liked it when anyone shortened my name when I was little. I would tell people, when I was 3 or 4, `It's just Kimmie.'"

Other favorites:

Color: Gold (blue and red, too)

Musical group: The Killers; Kelly Clarkson

Song: "Lose Yourself" by Eminem

Movie: Finding Neverland

Actor: Orlando Bloom

Actress: Reese Witherspoon

Athlete: Lance Armstrong

Sport (not figure skating): Speed skating

Book: Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

Places to eat: Chili's and Subway

Favorite shopping place: "Towson Town Center, small stores around Bel Air, anywhere."

Food: Chicken Caesar wraps and turkey subs

Beverage: Coke

[Candus Thomson]

AT A GLANCE

Irina Slutskaya

Country -- Russia

Age -- 27

Major Titles -- World champion (2002, 2005); Olympic silver (2002); gold, Grand Prix Final (1999-2000, 2000-01, 2001-02, 2004-05).

What to Look For -- personal bests, short program/long program/total (70.22/130.48/198.06)

Scott Hamilton says -- "She is the favorite coming in. Like Tiger Woods breaking down his swing ... she changed her whole outlook and completely embraced and adopted the scoring system. I wouldn't be surprised to see her win the gold."

Sasha Cohen

Country -- USA

Age -- 21

Major Titles -- U.S. champion (2006); silver, U.S. Championships (2002, 2004, 2005); gold, Grand Prix Final (2003); silver, World Championships (2004, 2005).

What to Look For -- personal bests, short program/long program/total (71.12/130.89/197.60)

Scott Hamilton says -- "Finishing second at the World Championships (last year) was a great confidence builder. ... She's grown over the last four years. She's focused, comfortable ... and she's developed a killer instinct."

Kimmie Meissner

Country -- USA

Age -- 16

Major Titles -- silver, U.S. Championships (2006); bronze, U.S. championships (2005); silver, Junior World Championships (2004)

What to Look For -- personal bests, short program/long program/total (56.10/110.80/155.72)

Dick Button says -- "She's a breath of fresh air. She's a solid technical skater with a lot of speed. ... She is part of the next generation."

Emily Hughes

Country -- USA

Age -- 17

Major Titles -- bronze, Junior World Championships (2005)

What to Look For -- personal bests, short program/long program/total (51.42/96.47/147.89)

Dick Button says -- "She's vivacious and energetic and that's contagious. She's bright-eyed and just fun to watch. ... She didn't skate her best at Nationals."

Shizuka Arakawa

Country -- Japan

Age -- 24

Major Titles -- World Champion (2004); silver, Grand Prix Finals (2004-05)

What to Look For -- personal bests, short program/long program/total (64.20/123.99/182.19)

Scott Hamilton says -- "She's got the whole package. She's definitely a threat for the gold."

Fumie Suguri

Country -- Japan

Age -- 25

Major Titles -- gold, Grand Prix Final (2003-04); bronze, World Championships (2002 and 2003); Four Continents champion (2001, 03, 05); National Champion (2006).

What to Look For -- personal bests, short program/long program/total (62.02/120.06/182.08)

Dick Button says -- "Not great artistry. She doesn't stretch out ... skating as if on eggshells. She has one great virtue. She can pull out her best performance when the chips are down."

Carolina Kostner

Country -- Italy

Age -- 19

Major Titles -- bronze, World Championships (2005)

What to Look For -- personal bests, short program/long program/total (60.82/113.29/174.11)

Dick Button says -- "She's long, tall and elegant and will be exceedingly popular with the audience. But she's not always reliable."

Compiled by Candus Thomson