Bad fall fails to stop Miriam's titles run
The Southern Star
10 March 2004

ICEWORLD Acacia Ridge's world titles-bound figure skater Miriam Manzano has survived a bad practice fall and will leave on schedule for Europe next week.

The 2003 Australian Senior Ladies Champion, who had just returned from a Four Continents Competition in Canada to resume training at Acacia Ridge, sustained severe bruising in the fall.

However, the effects would not hinder her preparation for the world titles, she said.

"My coach (Colin Jackson) said I was due for a rest from training anyway," she said.

The pair leaves for Vienna, Austria, next week to get acclimatised to the European conditions before tackling the world's best in Dortmund, Germany, from March 22-28.

Manzano, 27, said she wanted to match or better her 16th placing at the 2002 world titles, despite the standard having improved.

"I've done well in three other overseas competitions this season, so I should go well," she said.

"I won in Italy and took third in Finland."

She is the only woman in the Australian team.

Of Spanish parentage, Manzano came to Acacia Ridge to train fulltime under internationally respected coach Jackson after 14 years in Canberra.

"It was a fantastic opportunity which I've no regrets about," she said.