'New Joubert' emerging ahead of Olympics

French former world champion Brian Joubert, famed for his daring quadruple jumps, has warned his rivals that he is evolving into an all-round performer in his quest for a first Olympic medal.

"In my free programme, I want to show that I don't want to be just a jumper but I want to be a figure skater," the 25-year-old said after winning his first Grand Prix title of the season at the NHK Trophy here on Saturday.

The three-time European champion said he would still try to nail three quadruple jumps in the free programme, a highly demanding feat he achieved in 2006 as the first European to do so.

"But I also want to show that I can do choreography between the jumps. And I try to improve myself on the spins," he said.

"I have to work. I want to show a different Brian Joubert," said the Frenchman, who struggled with his new programmes and finished a disappointing fourth last month at the season-opening Grand Prix, the Trophee Eric Bompard.

At the Paris event, his long programme included three quadruple jumps. But he stumbled on the opening quad toe loop, fell on the second and downgraded his third to a triple.

At the NHK Trophy, he also included three quads in his free-skate plan after taking a slim lead in the short programme. He landed an opening quadruple toe loop but downgraded the two others to assure himself of victory.

Three other skaters, including last season's Grand Prix Final winner Jeremy Abbott of the United States, each attempted a quadruple but they fell or stepped out.

Skating to "Ancient Land" by Ronan Hardiman, Joubert also showed his artistic side. His flying sit and change sit spin were graded a level four while his footwork and combination spin were a level two.

Although American Evan Lysacek won the world championship in March without attempting a quadruple, the four-revolution jump is seen as an important factor in top-level competition.

The past three Olympic champions executed a clean quad but their consistent skating was seen as the deciding factor for their triumphs.

Turin Olympic gold medallist Evgeny Plushenko of Russia won the season's second Grand Prix, the Rostelecom Cup, in Moscow by displaying a solid quadruple-triple toe loop combination on his comeback from a three-year break.

Czech star Tomas Verner and Russian Sergei Voronov are among those who regularly challenge the quad.

After finishing sixth in his Olympic debut at the 2006 Turin Games, Joubert succeeded in his three-quad challenge to win the Cup of Russia later in the year. In 1999, American Timothy Goebel became the first skater ever to land three quadruple jumps in a programme.

In Tokyo in 2007, Joubert became the first Frenchman to be world champion in 42 years after landing a spectacular quadruple toe loop.

Joubert said he had two choreographers to help him improve on his figure skating.

"But I really want to show quad jumps because when I do it I have a lot of fun and it is great for the audience, for figure skating," he said. "If I can do three quads with good quality of skating, it will be perfect."