TORINO 2006 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES, Feb 10-26

[BOREALIS]

U.S. pair lands first Olympic throw triple axel
Difficult maneuver achieved once before by tandem at U.S. Championships


Brian Bahr / Getty Images
Rena Inoue and John Baldwin completed the 'throw triple-axel,' a 3.5 revolution maneuver not attempted by any other pair.

AP
Updated: 2:55 p.m. ET Feb. 11, 2006


TURIN, Italy - U.S. pairs champions Rena Inoue and John Baldwin landed the first throw triple-axel in Olympic history Saturday night, helping them to a personal best score.

Inoue completed the difficult 3½-revolution maneuver with ease, coming down softly on the ice as Baldwin pumped his fist. It was the second time in a month they’d successfully done the move; their throw triple axel at the U.S. championships in January was the first ever landed in competition.

Inoue and Baldwin earned 35.53 points technically and 25.74 for program components for a 61.27 total.

No other pair was scheduled to try the move.

© 2006 The Associated Press.


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