JOHN MISHA PETKEVICH

John Misha Petkevich '71 came from behind Sunday night to snatch the gold medal in men's figure skating at the World University Winter Games in Lake Placid.

Petkevich, who trailed Vladimar Kovalev of the Soviet Union in the compulsories performed magnificently in the free-skating portion of the competition to capture the world title. Kovalev placed second in the match.

Petkevich was favored in the competition. He was fifth in the Olympic Games at Sapporo. Sunday's gold medal was the first for the United States at the World University Winter Games which began Saturday.