Paris (AFP)

The young Russian Anna Shcherbakova was crowned world figure skating champion from her first participation, at only sixteen, Friday in Stockholm, one year from the Olympics-2022 in Beijing.

With a total of 233.17 points, Shcherbakova, already in the lead after the short program, edged two other Russian skaters, 2015 world champion Elizaveta Tuktamysheva (220.46) and Alexandra Trusova (217.20), sixteen years old too and author of a crazy comeback with quadruple jumps.

All was not perfect for Shcherbakova, who fell from the start on her only attempt at a quadruple jump (a Flip).

But the one who will celebrate her 17th birthday on Sunday then held out until the end of her free program.

“I really don't know what to say. I tried to do my best, I struggled on every element, but I'm not really happy with my performance, she comments. But I'm still happy. : I am first and that was my goal. "

"It was really a struggle, says the young Russian. From the first element, it did not go as I wanted, and after, on each element, I said to myself: + I must try to do better and not to lose any point +. "

At 24 and without a "quad" in her arsenal, Tuktamysheva relied on her secret boot, the triple Axel, to climb back onto the world podium six years after her only appearance - victorious at the time.

The protege of Alexei Mishin has integrated twice - with success - in her performance this most complex triple rotation, since it requires in fact to achieve three and a half laps in the air.

Few of the skaters take the risk.

Disappointing twelfth after the short program, nearly fifteen points from the provisional podium, Trusova embarked on a dizzying rise with "quads".

The Russian spinning top dared five (!), Including two in combination.

But she couldn't avoid two falls, a demoted jump and a rough landing.

The new student of Evgeni Plushenko was nevertheless rewarded for her risk taking with the best score in the free skate, with 152.38 points.

Like Shcherbakova, Trusova competed in her first Worlds.

For her second, the young Japanese Rika Kihira (18 years old), in ambush after the short program, did not withstand the shock and finally only ranked seventh (205.70) after a performance without a quadruple jump, but with a triple Axel that turned into a double and fell.

© 2021 AFP