Chrolenko is coached by his father, Marek Chrolenko, who is a former Polish national pairs champion who placed 7th at the European Championships in 1977.

Because Natasha Kuchiki and Todd Sand, the defending pairs champions, won a bronze medal at the worlds, the United States can qualify three teams.

The surprise of the first day of skating came at night, when the United States pairs champions, Jill Watson and Peter Oppegard, placed third in the short program.

Before the thunderous applause subsided, he hugged his good friend, Lisa Schoeller; his coach, Linda Leaver, and his choreographer, Sandra Bezic, a former Canadian pairs champion.

Otto Jelinek, the former pairs champion and the Revenue Minister of Canada, is reported to be interested in running for the Prime Minister post this year.

Debbie Wilkes, a former Canadian pairs champion who is now a television commentator, was crying on the air, choked with emotion.

The latest casualties were the pairs champions, Oksana Kazakova and Artur Dmitriev of Russia, who withdrew last night after he contracted food poisoning.

Kyoko Ina and John Zimmerman, the four-time United States pairs champions, had already left to acclimate to the higher altitude in Salt Lake City.

Third, but with much ground to make up, were the reigning world pairs champions, Fulvio Fantoni and Claudio Nunes of Italy.

Lisa Berkowitz and her husband, David, are international mixed pairs champions.