Lipinski skates way into pro world with victory

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) -- Olympic gold medalist Tara Lipinski followed the professional script Friday night: skating two perfect routines, landing all jumps, doing everything just right.

The 15-year-old champion took to the ice at the North Charleston Coliseum in her first nonsanctioned event, the made-for-TV Skate, Rattle & Roll Figure Skating Championships, and came away with the top prize.

The event was more a scripted program than a competition, with an enthusiastic crowd of 7,500 cheering repeatedly as hosts Eric Nies of MTV and former Olympic athletes Summer Sanders and Rosalynn Sumners often retaped portions of the show.

The crowd favorite, Lipinski led throughout the competition and sealed the win with a flawless second routine to the song "Oh Tara" by the Knack -- earning straight 10s from the five celebrity judges.

Introduced by Nies as "Charleston's newest hometown girl," Lipinski, whose family recently bought property on Kiawah Island, got a rousing welcome. She later said the event was the "perfect way to come out."

The program will air May 7 on ABC.

Lipinski edged three-time world silver medalist Surya Bonaly, who did her trademark backflip in both routines, and Olympic gold medalists Katarina Witt and Oksana Baiul. Bonaly was also making her professional debut. Witt and Baiul turned pro years ago.

Lipinski and Bonaly lost their Olympic eligibility by appearing in the event. The International Skating Union does not recognize Skate, Rattle & Roll.

In the men's competition Friday, Kurt Browning, with two jump-laden routines, led after the first round and got straight 10s in his second routine. Browning also played to the crowd, hugging fans and even briefly taking a child onto the ice.

Olympic gold medalist Viktor Petrenko, U.S. brone medalist Scott Williams and European champion Viacheslav Zagorodniuk, who was making his professional debut, also competed.

Competitors skated to rock 'n' roll songs by the likes of Smash Mouth, Chumbawamba, Spice Girls and Will Smith before a panel of judges -- all Olympic medalists, but none skaters.