Tatiana Volosozhar/Maxim Trankov crowned new European Champions
Tatiana Volosozhar/Maxim Trankov crowned new European Champions Tatiana Volosozhar/Maxim Trankov led a podium sweep for the Russian pairs and won their first European title in a convincing fashion. Vera Bazarova/Yuri Larionov claimed the silver and Ksenia Stolbova/Fedor Klimov took the bronze in their debut at the European Championships. There has not been a Russian sweep in pairs since 2005.
Volosozhar/Trankov's program to “Black Swan” was highlighted by a triple twist, a triple Salchow, triple toe-double toe, a throw triple loop and Salchow. The World silver medalists earned a level four for two lifts and the pair combination spin. The couple from Moscow collected 137.65 points and totaled 210.45 points to win the title in what was their first European Championship as a team. “Of course we are very excited to have won. It is our first European Championship together and to win the gold is amazing”, Trankov said. Skating to “Doctor Zhivago”, Bazarova/Larionov put out a solid performance that featured a triple toe, high triple twist, throw triple flip and loop, but Bazarova stumbled on the double Axel sequence. The defending bronze medalists scored 126.90 points and accumulated 193.79 points overall. “We are extremely happy. We gave everything we had. It was a little hard to skate last as we had to wait so long and it is already late in the evening. We had practice in the morning and waited all day. We are glad that it's over now”, Bazarova commented. Stolbova/Klimov produced a double twist, difficult lifts and rock-solid throw triple flip and throw triple Salchow in their program to “Polovetsian Dances” to score 113.15 points, a new seasons best. Their total score added up to 171.81 points. “It is great for us to have won the bronze in our debut at Europeans. Hopefully it will be a good experience for us to build on”, Klimov told the press.
Stefania Berton/Ondrej Hotarek (ITA) came fourth with a solid routine to “Adagio” by Albinoni (158.99 points) and Mari Vartmann/Aaron van Cleave (GER) moved up from seventh to fifth with a strong skate to “The Holiday” by Hans Zimmer (154.99 points).
The ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2012 continue Friday with the Ladies Short Program and the Free Dance. For more information, full entry lists and results please see: www.isu.org and http://www.europeans2012.co.uk/
