Riding the highest standard – Kommersant

Figure skating

Gold, silver and two bronze medals were won by Russian one skaters in the final Grand Prix, held in Barcelona. Four types of programs have excelled competitions representatives of three countries: Russia’s Elizaveta Tuktamysheva and Japanese Yuzuru Chania – in figure skating, as well as two duets from Canada – dance Caitlin Weaver – Andrew Poje and sports Meagan Duhamel – Eric Radford.

All of our skaters, successfully performed on the stages of the Grand Prix and get into the finals series – great athletes. However, to achieve women’s tournament winner Elizabeth Tuktamysheva and Sergei Voronov, who became a finalist for the Grand Prix for the first time and won bronze in addition, still stand out. They are united to a certain extent similar and very difficult sport fate, which zigzags both at some point put on the brink of choice: either to say goodbye forever to figure skating, or still try to get out of the quagmire. Both chose the second option and it succeeded. However, without professional skills and support to high-class coaches Alexei Mishin and Eteri Tutberidze miraculous transformation skaters would have been impossible in principle.

Elizabeth Tuktamysheva and Adelina Sotnikova rich sporting future, including Olympic, other since childhood. But the prophecy was fulfilled so far only in respect Sotnikova that gold in Sochi still took. A Tuktamysheva, unable to cope with the difficulties of adolescence, the Olympics is not selected. But now, when Adelina Sotnikova recovering from injury, Elizabeth Tuktamysheva undergoing a renaissance.

thin and matured in every sense skater gain confidence from start to start, which, being successful, to the final Grand Prix she had accumulated more than anyone else of competitors – seven. Tactics famous Alexei Mishin and worked on the eighth. In a situation where just four Russians, led by Elizabeth Tuktamysheva settled after the short program to each other and to the fore psychology, Anna and Julia Pogorilaya Lipnitskaya nerves failed. Only war-hardened Elizabeth Tuktamysheva everything was uneasy: skated without mistakes she did not stop even malaise. “For the first time in the season, I made clear, though in the end hooked legs and I dokatyvayutsya, we can say, on its last legs” – admitted the winner.

Elena Radionova fell after short program at ritbergere and came in third. But still won silver, showed character in the brilliant execution of arbitrary.

A breakthrough in his career of Sergei Voronov, who have long been able to get out of a cohort of “promising”, occurred within six months after moving skater from St. Petersburg to Moscow and group lessons Etery Tutberidze. Last January skater finished second at the European Championships, the skeptics could easily find it for randomness. However, in Barcelona Sergei Voronov, converts not only externally but also, according to the gambler light in their eyes, internally, proved the validity of their claim for a place in the world elite. On the fourth place after the short program, he eventually rose to the third, pushing him to the Russian champion Maxim Kovtun. And ahead of the Russians only objectively the strongest skaters in the world – who managed to cope with the consequences of injuries and setbacks early season Olympic champion Yuzuru Japanese Chania and twice European champion Spaniard Javier Fernandez.

Olympic champions in team competitions and holders of personal Olympic silver in the pairs figure skating Xenia Stolbov – Fedor Klimov, despite the surprisingly emotional rolled his long program, in which, however, they were wrong the performance of a parallel jump, still have not been able to get ahead of Canadians Meagan Duhamel – Eric Radford, who lost in the first start. Medalists in the world from Canada won at the expense of performance of complex elements – parallel triple Lutz and quadruple output. Our second pair – Yuko Kawaguchi – Alexander Smirnov, because of the two partner falls short program marching sixth, in any release of quad did too. However, the fourth assessment of any program still will not allow them to climb above sixth place.

exactly in the same situation were also dancers Elena Ilyina – Ruslan Zhiganshin. For his inspirational free dance, they also received the fourth grade. But the sum of two rentals, which are unconditionally won pupils Angelika Krylova Canadians Kaitlyn Weaver – Andrew Poje, closed the top six.

Valery Mironov

The final Grand Prix in Barcelona

 

 

Men. Final standings. 1. Yuzuru Chania (Japan) – 288.16 points. 2. Javier Fernandez (Spain) – 253.90. 3. Sergei Voronov – 244,53. 4. Maxim Kovtun (both – Russia) – 242.27.

 

Women. Final standings. 1. Elizabeth Tuktamysheva – 203,58 points. 2. Elena Radionova (both – Russia) – 198.74. 3. Ashley Wagner (USA) – 189.50. 4. Anna Pogorilaya –180,29. 5. Julia Lipnitskaya (both – Russia) – 177.79.

 

Couples. Final standings. 1. Meagan Duhamel – Eric Radford (Canada) – 220.72 points. 2. Xenia Stolbov – Fedor Klimov (Russia) – 213.72. 3. Ventszin– Sui Han Cong (China) – 194.31. 6. Yuko Kawaguchi – Alexander Smirnov (Russia)  211; 184.54.

 

Dancing. Final standings. 1. Kaitlyn Weaver – Andrew Poje (Canada) – 181.14 points. 2. Madison Chock – Evan Bates (USA) – 167.09. 3. Gabriella Papadakis – Guillaume Cizeron (France) – 162.39. 6. Elena Ilina – Ruslan Zhiganshin (Russia) – 156.46.