“Shcherbakova has a masculine character”: in Russia they admired the triumph of figure skaters at the European Championships

Women's competitions at the European Figure Skating Championships ended with the triumph of Russian athletes.

Kamila Valieva won her first major senior tournament despite falling off the triple axel.

Anna Shcherbakova was able, thanks to an impeccably executed free program, to rise to second place.

Alexandra Trusova became third due to two falls.

Ilya Averbukh, vice-champion of the Olympic Games in ice dancing, was sure from the very beginning that Russian figure skaters would occupy the entire podium.

He especially singled out Shcherbakov, who took second place, as she was able to return to her high level in time.

“There was no doubt that all three girls would be on the podium.

This is an absolutely natural result.

Most of all, I would like to note Anna Shcherbakova, who showed a clean performance, perfectly performed a quadruple flip and returned to her form.

Anya removed all questions about her participation in the Olympic Games.

She is a big guy.

Shcherbakova had a more balanced program than Trusova.

Rotations, step sequences, cascades were performed brilliantly, ”said Averbukh RT.

Also on russian.rt.com Valieva's victory, Shcherbakova's feat and Trusova's fall: how the Russians took the entire podium at the European Championship

He added that he was not surprised by the final victory of Valieva, since the 15-year-old figure skater was aiming for gold in advance.

Separately, he commented on Trusova's not very successful performance and found his pluses in it.

“The first gold of the European Championship for Kamila Valieva.

She was the top favorite and confirmed it.

From an artistic point of view, she has the best free program.

This program is perfection.

Sasha Trusova went to the maximum, but not everything worked out.

Still, we saw two wonderful quadruple jumps in her performance.

It was the main rehearsal before the Olympic Games.

For me personally, the three participants have already been determined, ”said the choreographer.

Averbukh also advised Trusova to lighten her free program a little.

At the same time, he pointed out that the athlete does not yet have other such strengths as quadruple jumps.

“The coach, of course, knows better.

Eteri Tutberidze is a great strategist, and I am sure that the decision will be made.

At the Olympics, it might make sense to lighten the content a little, but for Sasha, quadruple jumps are her trump cards.

Without them, it is more difficult for her to fight, since in other components she is inferior to her rivals.

This is not just her bravado and the pursuit of five jumps, this is her way to compete, ”the specialist believes.

Winter Universiade champion Betina Popova believes that the fall of Valieva should not be a tragedy.

She called the European championship a rehearsal for the Olympic Games in Beijing, to which Tutberidze's student will have to come up in better shape.

“For our girls, this European Championship was more like a test for themselves.

I don't think Camila is very upset about her mistake.

It was an opportunity before the Olympics to see in a competitive atmosphere where and what shortcomings there are, where something needs to be corrected.

Yes, it wasn't quite the Camila we're used to seeing, but I don't think there's any problem with that.

The groundwork in the short program helped her win.

I think that she will fix everything for the Olympics, ”said the former RT athlete.

Popova singled out Shcherbakova's ability to get together at the right time and give out an exemplary rental.

According to her, no one except the silver medalist of the European Championship can do this anymore.

“Ani has the most athletic character that can be found in figure skaters in recent years.

She is an incredible girl who knows how to assemble in any situation and get out of any situation.

Today she gave an incredible performance in terms of energy and self-confidence.

With her rod, Shcherbakova simply took out everyone, ”the specialist is sure.

Commenting on Trusova's performance, Popova noted that she was unlikely to give up her grandiose plans to perform five quadruple jumps in one program.

According to the former figure skater, this is of great importance for Alexandra.  

“Now Sasha does not have enough strength for five quadruple jumps, but someday she will have enough.

At the test skates, she showed the full program.

Medals and places are important for all athletes, but there is something more important.

Sasha sets a certain standard for herself, and until she takes it, she will not calm down.

This is also a manifestation of a sporting nature, ”Popova noted.

She also said that now there is no alternative to the three medalists of the European Championship in the Russian team.

At the same time, she advised the coaching staff to declare two athletes for the Olympic team tournament so that they could withstand all the competition.

“This trio - Valiev, Shcherbakov, Trusova - has now shown worthy and strong skating.

Everyone makes mistakes, it happens to everyone, but they have the most complex technical set in the world.

So I think that this trio will remain intact before the Olympics.

I would personally beat the girls for the team tournament at the Olympics, because they are still young.

They need to be given a chance to rest.

Skating four programs at such a serious tournament is very difficult, ”concluded Popova.

The well-known coach Alexander Zhulin, whose students Victoria Sinitsina and Nikita Katsalapov won gold in Tallinn, praised Valieva's victory, but paid more attention to Shcherbakova's performance.

He was especially pleased that the athlete coped with the pressure after the short program.

“I have a feeling that Valieva was a little tired, but she will fit in all her glory for the Olympics.

At the same time, everything was enough for her to win, Valieva is a phenomenon in figure skating.

Today I am extremely happy for Anya Shcherbakova.

She got so much hate after the short program.

We like to simply destroy a person for one unsuccessful rental.

Today she skated cleanly and showed that she is the world champion for a reason.

She has a masculine character, she is a true leader and champion.

I wish her only all the best, because Anya is a monster in a good way, ”the specialist said in an interview with RT.

He also spoke about his attitude to how Trusov is trying to build his programs.

He suggested that someday she would still be able to show a rental with quadruple jumps without errors.

“Sasha, it seems to me, decides everything herself, and this is her strength, all her salt.

She wouldn't be Trusova if she didn't try her jumps.

Can you imagine if she collects them all?”

Zhulin asked.