Credit: ISU
Sofia Samodurova celebrates Golden Debut
Russia’s Sofia Samodurova skated to the Ladies gold as the ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2019 continued Friday in Minsk (BLR). Gabriella Papadakis/Guillaume Cizeron (FRA) danced to the lead in the Rhythm Dance.
Gabriella Papadakis/Guillaume Cizeron (FRA) tango into the lead
Olympic silver medalists Gabriella Papadakis/Guillaume Cizeron (FRA) tangoed into the lead in the Rhythm Dance. Russia’s Alexandra Stepanova/Ivan Bukin came second, followed closely by Italians Charlene Guignard/ Marco Fabbri.
Dancing to “Oblivion” and “Primavera Porteno” by Astor Piazzolla, Papadakis/Cizeron delivered a smooth performance that included a level-four curve lift and level-four Tango pattern. The midline step sequence and the first Tango pattern were graded a level two, the twizzels were a level four for her and a level three for him. The four-time European Champions scored 84.79 points, slightly surpassing their previous season’s best. “It all went really well. We are proud indeed of what we have done. Technique wise it was on point as well,” Papadakis noted. “We were really concentrated on all the technical elements that we’ve been working on. Indeed it’s only the second competition of our season. For me it didn’t feel like it was the best performance that we could show, but it’s interesting to know that even if we’re not at 100% we can still deliver,” Cizeron explained.
Stepanova/Bukin put out a passionate Paso Doble and Tango to “Carmen Story”, collecting a level four for the second Tango Romantica pattern, the twizzles and the curve lift to post a new season’s best of 81.37 points. “Ice dance is to us when you show your emotions, your theatre, your show and the technical part at the same time. This is what is our sport is about. We’re very happy to have surpassed the 80 points, especially at such a competition as the European Championship,” Stepanova shared.
Guignard/Fabbri’s dance to the Tango pieces “Miedo a la Libertad”, “La Chanson des vieux amants” and “Tanos” was highlighted by an unique stationary lift and a precise Tango pattern. The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final bronze medalist scored 79.05 points, which was a season’s best for them. “I think we skated our best performance. Scores don’t always tell the truth. Sometimes you feel you skated better but you get less. Sometimes you feel you didn’t skate that well and you get more points. This time we felt we skated our best. The best rhythm dance of the season and the best score so it’s great,” Fabbri told the press.
Natalia Kaliszek/Maksym Spodyriev (POL) came fourth with a strong performance to “Tango Passion” on 72.87 points. ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final silver medalists Victoria Sinitsina/Nikita Katsalapov (RUS) are currently sitting in fifth after Katsalapov fell on the twizzle series while his partner stumbled (70.24 points). Olivia Smart/Adrian Diaz (ESP) placed sixth on 70.02 points.
Sofia Samodurova (RUS) storms to gold in Minsk
Russian newcomer Sofia Samodurova stormed to gold in her debut as the Ladies event concluded at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships. Olympic Champion Alina Zagitova of Russia slipped to second place to claim the silver while Finland’s Viveca Lindfors rose from fourth to take the bronze.
Samodurova skated right after Zagitova and remained focused while the flower girls cleared the ice from numerous flowers and gifts. Skating to the upbeat “Burlesque” soundtrack, the ISU Grand Prix Finalist hit a triple flip-triple toeloop combination, triple Lutz, loop, double Axel-triple toe as well as two more triples and completed level-four spins and footwork. The 16-year-old posted a new season’s best with 140.96 points and totaled 213.84 points. “I am overwhelmed by emotions now, I can’t find words to describe what I am feeling now. I am European Champion and that’s so awesome. My coach told me to stop crying, but I can’t, these are just my sincere emotions,” the skater from St. Petersburg said. “This is my first senior championship and I am very happy that I was able to show such a result. However, I could have skated better in the second half of my program and I could have been more emotional and bright in some places,” she added.
Zagitova opened her “Carmen” program with a double Axel, but then ran into trouble when she fell on the back end of her triple Lutz-triple toeloop combination. The 2018 European Champion recovered to land a triple Salchow, double Axel, but she made errors on three more jumps. Zagitova picked up level fours for two spins and the footwork. With 123.34 points, she was ranked fourth in the Free Skating and slipped to second overall on 198.34 points. “It is good that I am in the top three and the silver medal is also good. I could have been left without anything,” the 16-year-old said. “I want to thank all fans for their support and I want to apologize to them for my unsuccessful performance.”
Performing to “Les Miserables”, Lindfors produced four clean triples including a triple Lutz-triple toeloop combination as well as difficult spins and steps to score 128.79 points. With a total score of 194.40 points, she pulled up one spot to claim the first medal for Finland in seven years. “It’s a big personal victory for me, since figure skating has taken such a big step forward since our last medal. I feel very accomplished to have been able to reach the top three in the European Championships,“ the Finnish Champion shared.
Stanislava Konstantinova (RUS) rallied back from a subpar Short Program that had left her in 11th place. Her performance to “Anna Karenina” was highlighted by five clean triples. She finished second in the Free Skating and fourth overall on 189.72 points. Laurine Lecavelier (FRA) moved up from sixth to fifth on 180.05 points while Alexia Paganini dropped from third to sixth at 179.90 points.