Figure skating - European Championships, 2013, Zagreb
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The first title is awarded in the European Championships in figure skating was, as usual, one of the pairs of art. '' For the occasion, the ice of the "Dom Sportova" in Zagreb became the scene of a historic moment for the Italian movement.
Thursday 24 January 2013 7 minutes reading time
Stefania Berton and Ondrej Hotarek are, in fact, got on the lowest rung of the podium getting a result on the eve strongly desired, but on paper tutt'' atro that granted. Previously, never a pair of artistic blue had won medals, despite last season's pupils Franca Bianconi had not gone so far away from'' ambitious goal.
The couple stationed in Sesto San Giovanni had the merit to close in the third position in both segments of the race crumbling personal record, improved by more than fifteen lengths. The free program, except for the fall of Berton'' tough on triple salchow in parallel, did not produce large burrs, testimony of a technical stability now fully acquired. Specifically, should be highlighted the quality of the combination of three jumps (triple toe loop / double toe loop / double toe loop), by far the best view in today's race.
As regards the first five positions, the result of the free program has traced in all and for all of the first part of the competition.
The title went to defending champions Volosozhar / Trankov, again first class on the technical score and each of the components of the program. Today's performance of peak torque Russian was not, however, immune from any imperfection, especially on that throw jumps, for some time, are giving some problems too on landing stage. However, it can not overshadow the'' indisputable quality of lifts, spins, steps and especially triple twist, elements of which it was founded success.
The defending champions world Savchenko / Szolkowy had to settle for the place of honor'' and points to the hand, can not even complain to the fall on the triple Salchow in parallel, even if realized at best, would not have overturned the result. The German couple has still got the seventh career medal in the continental event, but in view of the FIFA World Championship will be working on different elements, twist and spinning in pairs on all, to try to bridge the current gap''. To tell the truth, some concerns about the gap that separated the pretenders to the title remains, but for now the turn taken by the season, you better not get over it.
At the foot of the podium, were placed the advanced French James / Cipres, able to retouch the national record of more than ten points. Only fifths, however, the Russians sailed Kavaguti / Smirnov, the third in the free program components, but suffer from the uncertainties of Alexander Smirnov on the double axel in parallel and the low quality of landings of the jumps launched.
The second pair of blue, composed by Nicole Della Monica and Matthew Guarise, got an encouraging ninth place to debut in the continental competition. I just regret for not having achieved the score in the short program technical limit critical to take part in the next World Cup.
In the light of the final result, Russia, Germany, France and Italy will field three couples to head in the next edition of the European Championships to be held in Budapest. Britain, however, will have two seats.
FINAL STANDINGS
01) 212,45 (73,23 | 139,22) (RUS) Tatiana VOLOSOZHAR / Maxim TRANKOV
02) 205.24 (70.21 | 135.03) (GER) SAVCHENKO Aliona / Robin SZOLKOWY
03) 187.45 (64.28 | 123.17) (ITA) Stefania Berton / Ondrej Hotárek (PB)
04) 178.81 (59,27 | 119,54) (FRA) Vanessa JAMES / Morgan CIPRES (PB)
05) 175,48 (56,20 | 119,28) (RUS) Yuko KAVAGUTI / Alexander SMIRNOV
06) 167,23 (53,70 | 113,53) (RUS) Ksenia Stolbova / Fedor Klimov
07) 157.12 (53.75 | 103.37) (FRA) Daria POPOVA / Bruno Massot (PB)
08) 141,79 (55,14 | 86,65) (GER) Mari VARTMANN / Aaron VAN CLEAVE
09) 140,89 (47,26 | 93,63) (ENG) Nicole OF MONICA / Matthew Guarise
10) 131,51 (45,39 | 86,12) (GBR) Stacey KEMP / David KING
11) 128,79 (41,66 | 87,13) (UKR) Julia Lavrentieva / Yuri Rudyk (PB)
12) 115.96 (37.15 | 78.11) (BUL) Elizabeta MAKAROVA / Leri KENCHADZE (PB)
13) 112,29 (39,07 | 73,22) (AUT) Stina MARTINI / Severin KIEFER (PB)
14) 103,13 (37,06 | 66,07) (BLR) Maria PALIAKOVA / Nikita Bochkov (PB)
15) 99.65 (34,73 | 64,92) (POL) Magdalena klatka / Radoslaw CHRUSCINSKI
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