Talking about defending her title in the 2007 World Figure Skating Championships, which begin today in Tokyo, Meissner, typically as competitive as she is personable, appeared to have discounted her goals.
Over and over, she said she just wanted "to do my best" and continually referenced the pressure she expected to feel fending off three talented Asian challengers.
"I have my normal goal," Meissner said. "I want to end the season on a high note and two strong programs. . . . It's hard to get to the top. But it's even harder to stay there."
While Meissner's on-ice strategy in Tokyo will be to display more artistic touches to her jumping and skating skills, psychologically, she and coach Pam Gregory seem eager to assume an underdog's role.
Gregory, in fact, nearly made it sound as if the world championship Meissner won in Calgary was something of a fluke.
"Kimmie skated out of her mind that day and that's why she won," Gregory said. "If she skates two strong performances [this week], she'll be in the mix."
The mix on what appears to be a wide-open men's side could include Coatesville native Johnny Weir, whose run of four straight national titles was ended in January by Evan Lysacek. Weir will be looking for his first medal in his fourth world event. The men's short programs are Thursday.
American ice dancers Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, the Olympic silver medalists, will be among the favorites in that competition. The Chinese duo of Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo, meanwhile, is the heavy favorite in the pairs.
