Bratislava / Slovak Republic

The competition at the 2016 ISU European Figure Skating Championships continued Saturday in Bratislava, Slovak Republic with the Pairs Free Skating and the Ondrej Nepela Arena was filled to capacity.

Tatiana Volosozhar/Maxim Trankov (RUS) claim gold

Tatiana Volosozhar/Maxim Trankov of Russia claimed the gold medal in the Pairs event.  Germany’s Aliona Savchenko/Bruno Massot earned the silver medal and the bronze went to Evgenia Tarasova/Vladimir Morozov of Russia.

Performing to “Dracula” Volosozhar/Trankov produced a triple twist, triple Salchow-double toeloop combination, throw triple flip and loop as well as strong lifts. The Olympic Champions scored 142.89 points and racked up 222.66 points overall to win their fourth European title. “It was a very hard start to the day. We had an early practice then we stayed here in the rink before the free program because we had no time to go to the hotel. Most importantly, we won and we finished our program. We lost some levels doing some little mistakes. But, by the way, with all the problems we had before, I think this was quite a good free program for us. We skate better and better each competition, so I think we are going the right way for Worlds”, Trankov commented.

Savchenko/Massot program to “Sometimes” by Wax Tailer featured a triple twist, a side by side triple Salchow, throw triple flip and Salchow, but Massot struggled with two lifts that received no value and also double the first toe in the planned triple toe-triple toe sequence. The German Champions were ranked third in the Free Skating with 125.24 points and remained in second overall at 200.78. “I’m really happy with the silver medal in our first Europeans together. Of course I’m unhappy because of the mistake on the lift. We never miss that lift, especially as Bruno is really strong. Now we need to go and think about what we need to change in our practices so it doesn’t happen again”, Savchenko said.

Tarasova/Morozov landed a triple twist, triple Salchow, level-four lifts and a throw triple Salchow in their routine set to a Nocturne by Frederic Chopin. However, she doubled a toeloop and stepped out of the throw triple loop. The team from Moscow scored 127.38 points and were second in the Free Skating. Overall they repeated as bronze medalists with 197.55 points. “I think we have taken a big step since last year. The place is the same, it’s a bronze. But I think it is a more difficult competition this year, there are more difficult (stronger) couples in the competition with us today and we looked good”, Morozov told the post-event press conference.

Vanessa James/Morgan Cipres (FRA) finished fourth (185.55 points). Valentina Marchei/Ondrej Hotarek (ITA) pulled up from eighth to fifth (182.61 points) and Nicole Della Monica/Matteo Guarise (ITA) remained in sixth place.

The ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2016 continue with the Free Dance.