| | NICE, France -- A man wielding a razor attacked French pairs
skater Stephane Bernadis at his hotel room Tuesday, cutting the
skater in the forearm before fleeing down the corridor.
Bernadis suffered a long, superficial cut requiring three or
four stitches, said Didier Gailhaguet, head of the World Figure
Skating Championships organizing committee and president of the
French skating federation. Gailhaguet said Bernadis intended to
compete at the final long program Wednesday.
Bernadis and his partner, Sarah Abitbol, finished fourth in the
short program Monday night. They also were fourth at the European
Championships five weeks ago.
The attacker slashed Bernadis' arm when the skater opened the
door to his room, but Bernadis was able to close the door and keep
the attacker out. Gailhaguet said Bernadis was too disoriented to
provide a good description of the man.
"We are unable to say if the attack is random or premeditated
or the act of a crazy person," Gailhaguet said. To his knowledge,
Bernadis had not received any previous threats.
Gailhaguet said additional measures would be taken to protect
competitors, without being specific.
The members of the French team had each been assigned a body
guard before the championships. However, Pierre Montheillet,
technical director of the French ice sports federation, said the
measures were taken to provide a buffer with enthusiastic French
fans, not because of any specific threat.
French ice dancer Gwendal Peizerat, who saw Bernadis after the
attack, said the skater was determined to continue the competition.
Piezerat received threatening letters and phone calls following the
1998 Olympics.
Security at figure skating championships has been a concern
since Nancy Kerrigan was struck on the knee by an assailant at the
1994 U.S. Championships in Detroit. Kerrigan's chief rival, Tonya
Harding, pleaded guilty to covering up for her former husband and
his friends, who planned and carried out the attack. | |
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