It was swoon city Thursday afternoon at the figure skating competition at the Special Olympics World Winter Games.

Roman Zinurov of Russia performs his figure skating routine at the Tesoro Sports Center on Wednesday. (Marc Lester / Anchorage Daily News)

Ice dancers Debbie Koegel and Oleg Fediukov, bronze medalists at the 1999 and 2000 U.S. National Championships, were ringers brought in for the guest skater dance competition, which is making its debut at this year's Games.

The competition teams up a Special Olympics skater with a professional or high-level amateur skater. Thursday at the Tesoro Sports Centre, Koegel and Fediukov each skated with a dozen or so partners, all of whom were left starstruck.

And lovesick.

David Mulgrave, a 33-year-old from Pennsylvania, was breathless after his turn around the ice with Koegel, a striking woman with graceful, long lines.

"She is beautiful," he said. "She is beautiful."

When Mulgrave put his arms around both skaters for an impromptu photo session, Koegel abruptly burst into a laugh. "He's tickling me!" she said. Mulgrave just smiled.

"I've gotten tickled too," said Fediukov, who was every bit as elegant on the ice as Koegel. "After I was done skating with one girl she asked, 'Can I get a kiss?' "

"She got one."

Among Fediukov's partners was Megan McDermott of Anchorage, who was charmed by her Russian-born partner. "It's fun dancing with him," she said.

She pronounced Fediukov cute but said she didn't dare ask for a kiss.

"My fiancee would kill me!" she said.

Fediukov's fiancee didn't mind seeing women fawn over her man. That's because his fiancee is Koegel, and she was getting plenty of sugar herself.

Chris Gilmari of New Jersey gave Koegel a kiss on the cheek after their performance and then declared he would never wash his lips again. Gilmari, it should be noted, was identified by more than one person as Team USA's No. 1 flirt.

But guest skater dance is more than flirtation. Sandy Lamb of Indianapolis, the technical director for figure skating at the World Winter Games, said the new category already has had a big impact.

"It really opens the door, because we get a lot of athletes who are older athletes," she said.

Some of the older athletes may feel past their prime for singles or pair skating, Lamb said, but guest skater dance lures them back to the ice.

Guest skater dance was an exhibition sport at the 1985 World Winter Games but hadn't made another appearance until this year, when it returned as a medal sport.

Athletes had two chances to practice with Koegel and Fediukov before Thursday's first round of competition. Lamb said the pair's presence made a palpable impression on the athletes.

"On the bus ride back they were very loud, very excited," she said. "Someone asked, 'What did you do with your figure skaters? They're as high as a kite.' "

And so are Koegel and Fediukov, who coach and train at a rink in Aston, Pa. This week marks their first experience with Special Olympics.

But they say it won't be their last.

"Our rink has a small (Special Olympics) program, maybe four athletes. I'll tell you what, after this experience we will try to participate in this program," Fediukov said.

"And maybe help it grow," Koegel added.

Guest skater dance is somewhat similar to unified pairs, which teams a Special Olympics skater with an amateur skater. The big difference -- other than one event is ice dancing and the other is pairs skating -- is that in the unified event, the couple trains together all the time.

Shannon Lamb, Sandy's 30-year-old daughter, competes in unified pairs with 18-year-old Eric Leafgreen, who has competed at the Junior National Championships.

"I take lessons from her mom, so she got me skating with Shannon. We've been skating for the last three years," Leafgreen said. "It's been a whole big learning experience. I've learned about Special Olympics; I've learned how to teach. It lets me give back to the community."

Shannon, who has been to six consecutive World Winter Games, five times as an athlete and once as an official, is thrilled to have found a partner like Leafgreen.

"I've learned to skate fast with him," she said. "I think it's a great challenge and honor to have a wonderful partner like Eric."