Russian athletes triumphantly competed in sports pairs at the European Figure Skating Championships in Graz. Having occupied the entire podium, they settled down in the same sequence as at the Russian championship in Krasnoyarsk. Gold was won by Alexander Boykov and Dmitry Kozlovsky, Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov took silver, and Daria Pavlyuchenko and Denis Khodykin were content with bronze.
By the sum of the short and free programs, Boykova and Kozlovsky scored 234.58 points, which was their best result in their careers. At the same time, Boykova admitted that she was trying not to pay attention to high marks and was already thinking about speaking at the upcoming championship of the planet.
“We just do our job and try to achieve a result. Our coach Tamara Moskvina is also very pleased. I don’t know exactly how we will prepare for the World Cup, but we will continue to improve. Maybe there will be new elements, but it depends on the decision of the mentor, ”said Boykova.
In turn, Kozlovsky shared his emotions from the first triumph at the continental championship and admitted that this success belongs not only to the skaters themselves.
“This is the result of a great team. Thanks to everyone who helped us. Now they are just very happy. This is our first big international title. In the near future, we will concentrate on preparing for the World Cup, ”said Kozlovsky.
The triumph of the newly made European champions was commented on by their mentor Tamara Moskvina. According to her, it was new for Boykova and Kozlovsky to enter a free program in the status of a leader, but in the end they coped with the excitement and successfully completed the rental.
“For this tournament, we set them up as for the next competition. At the World Cup, competitors of a completely different level are represented, it will be much more difficult. It is gratifying that so far they ride almost unmistakably, ”said Moskvina.
She emphasized that she would definitely analyze the work of her wards, but admitted that she had already managed to notice some shortcomings.
“You need to know how someone has rolled, where there are not enough emotions, smiles. Or something is not the same. For example, they did not sit in the todes. Even in support, during the descent ... But viewers don’t notice this, ”she added.
For Tarasova and Morozov, the performance at the competitions in Graz turned into disappointment. Two-time European champions could not regain the honorary title and for the second time in a row lost to their main competitors. But if in Krasnoyarsk everything was decided by 0.47 points, this time the judges rated their performance at only 208.64 points.
“The sensations are not the most pleasant, but there are also positive aspects. We have a good, delivered program, which we manage to convey. Presenting it to the viewer is one of the most important points. Yes, there were errors in the technical elements, but we were able to show the production, it is well appreciated. Every year we add something new, reveal. Everything will be good. We are on the right track, ”Tarasova said.
In the world of figure skating, there was an opinion that the cause of such an unsuccessful performance of the duo could be problems with acclimatization, but Morozov himself did not agree with this.
“The physical condition is normal. Usually we have an acclimatization camp, but not so long ago there was a Russian championship in Krasnoyarsk. Marina Olegovna (Zueva, duet coach. - RT ) cannot stay with us in Moscow, so we flew to her (in the USA. - RT ). We didn’t stay, but I don’t feel any particular problems because of this, it’s stupidity, ”Morozov said.
At the same time, Zueva herself expressed the opinion that the fact that they had to go on the ice earlier than their direct competitors could affect the performance of the athletes.
“They didn’t ride first for a very long time. And I also think they need more competition. Now I am observing what problems this couple may have and what can be done to prevent them in the next season, ”Zueva RT said.
- Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov
- RIA News
- © Alexander Wilf
In addition, the specialist commented on the mistakes of her students in the performance of technical elements, and also suggested that their short rental could be affected by a failure in the short program.
“They are working on jumps with them, which was not there before. It's just that all this is not done quickly. It can be seen that in the short program they showed quality, a very serious level. I think they were broken by this annoying mistake on the support. Maxim Trankov is working on elements for us, but this is not a momentary process, ”said Zueva.
The mentor also answered how painfully Tarasova and Morozov perceive the latest failures, especially given that less experienced opponents are higher than them.
"Adequately. Understanding that it is much easier morally for young people. They have nothing to lose, and here is already medal baggage. Psychologically more difficult, ”the coach concluded.
Unlike silver medalists, bronze medalists were pleased with their performance. Daria Pavlyuchenko and Denis Khodykin showed the best result in the free program in their careers, but still drew attention to the shortcomings.
“The rental was a little greased due to one big blot and one small one. And the approach flew, but in general we are satisfied, ”Pavlyuchenko admitted.
At the same time, her partner Denis Khodykin did not restrain emotions, commenting on the fall of the partner after the ejection during the execution of an arbitrary program.
“There is an expression, a little rude, in English. Translated as "bad happens." So it happened. Probably, we need to wean ourselves to feel extra calm. It prevented it here, ”Khodykin noted.
The athlete also said that he is constantly studying and trying to notice interesting elements in the rental of famous skaters.
“You take a collective image from both couples and single people. As a child, I personally liked Tomasz Werner and Brian Joubert. Something from women's skating, some chips, and you can take a lot from the dancers, ”the skater added.
The skater's mentor Sergey Dobroskokov congratulated the wards on winning the bronze medals of the continental championship and said that the pair had coped with the task.
“The Federation has set a goal - the third or fourth place. We have done everything. I am also happy that Dasha has become more adult, independent. The process went in terms of her growing up and maturity as an athlete. She came to training on her own. This is the first start when she set herself up. He made some comments, but purely technical. And all this is very unexpected and pleasant. I see that this is just progress, because Denis does not need to be tuned, ”Dobroskokov admitted.
The specialist drew attention to the progress of the athletes and told whose sports path Pavlyuchenko intends to repeat.
“Daria strove for a medal in the European Championship. But her goal is to win the Olympics, she wants to be like Alyona Savchenko. Therefore, it moves up the stairs in the right direction. The way she behaved at this start, I really liked. And it inspires me with hope that it will be more interesting further, and the coach is easier. Although the pair needs fine tuning anyway, but this is just before going to the ice, ”the coach concluded.