2014 European Championships - The Ladies, Free Skate
Adelina Sotnikova is so very close to achieving her dream and winning the European title that slipped out of her fingers last year. But with Julia Lipnitskaia and Carolina Kostner breathing down her neck, the task is not easy at all.
Natalie Weinzierl's Rhapsody in Blue sounds grand and looks fabulous, but looks can be deceiving. She had a hand down on the Triple Lutz, stepped out of the Triple Loop, fell on the last Triple Salchow and lost her balance during the second-to-last spin. In terms of transition, there wasn't much there. Her score: 98.86. Overall: 151.88
Julia Turkkila's La Gazza Ladra migh sound funny, but it's quite a repetitive song. With a bit more imagination, she could have made a story for it, but as it is, the programme doesn't stand out. She missed a couple of elements, the most important being the Triple Salchow, which she fell on. She obtains 89.89 points. Overall: 140.31
I don't know if Elena Glebova builds her programmes around her headbands, but they're always present, almost like a trademark accessory. This time she used a golden headband to give a bit more credibility to Cleopatra. It was a good attempt artistically, but technically she messed up the Triple Loop, first Triple Salchow and had a little stumble right before the first jump. Her score: 101.03. Overall: 155.71.
Adelina Sotnikova is off to a wobbly start, but she's too determined to let that affect her. She gets back to her flawless jumping technique in no time and enjoys herself on the ice so much she even dares to wave to the cheering crowd during transition. And Hallelujah! her costume is no longer see-through. Well done! She earns 131.63 points. Overall: 202.36.
Alena Leonova has been Russia's underdog for so long, we were afraid she would never wake up from the slumber. But this time, her only mistake is a messy Double Toeloop. Her Carmen is just as cheeky and seductive (and gorgeously dressed) as we expected. She's one of the few skaters who takes the acting part of figure skating very, very seriously. More should follow her lead. I just wish she didn't cry so much, it's heart-breaking. Her score: 114.06. Overall: 178.15.
Carolina Kostner has just made figure skating resemble the military by strategically going back to last season's Bolero routine. It's sad to think someone as good as her didn't think she could win with a new programme. We will miss the Scheherazade. This time, what stole her gold medal was her old nemesis: the Triple Lutz. She earns 122.42 points. Overall: 191.39.
Julia Liptnitskaia is not only the most flexible skater we've ever seen, but she also has the best jumping technique out there. At only 15, she wins these Europeans with an emotional and outstanding performance. Her score: 139.75. Overall: 209.72.
After four sombre programmes that kept us on the edge of our seats, Mae Berenice Meite feels like a breath of fresh air. Skating on blues and the famous We Will Rock You, she knows she's got nothing to lose and manages to end the competition almost unharmed. The only mistake was a Triple Loop with a bad landing. She earns 114.73 points. Overall: 173.37.
Valentina Marchei might not have the show factor of Sotnikova, Aleonova, Kostner or Liptnitskaia, but she's an absolute delight to watch. Elegant, expressive and cool even when she falls on the Triple Loop, has a hand down on the Triple Salchow and messes up the Triple Flip, Valentina will be missed if she decides to retire after this season. Her score: 107.87. Overall: 165.25.
As Adelina Sotnikova's dream fades, Julia Lipnitskaia becomes European Champion at her first European Championships EVER. Congratulations to both of them for truly being extraordinary tonight. Carolina Kostner leaves us with a bitter taste after this competition, but she'll forever remain the most graceful skater we know of.
Natalie Weinzierl's Rhapsody in Blue sounds grand and looks fabulous, but looks can be deceiving. She had a hand down on the Triple Lutz, stepped out of the Triple Loop, fell on the last Triple Salchow and lost her balance during the second-to-last spin. In terms of transition, there wasn't much there. Her score: 98.86. Overall: 151.88
Julia Turkkila's La Gazza Ladra migh sound funny, but it's quite a repetitive song. With a bit more imagination, she could have made a story for it, but as it is, the programme doesn't stand out. She missed a couple of elements, the most important being the Triple Salchow, which she fell on. She obtains 89.89 points. Overall: 140.31
I don't know if Elena Glebova builds her programmes around her headbands, but they're always present, almost like a trademark accessory. This time she used a golden headband to give a bit more credibility to Cleopatra. It was a good attempt artistically, but technically she messed up the Triple Loop, first Triple Salchow and had a little stumble right before the first jump. Her score: 101.03. Overall: 155.71.
Adelina Sotnikova is off to a wobbly start, but she's too determined to let that affect her. She gets back to her flawless jumping technique in no time and enjoys herself on the ice so much she even dares to wave to the cheering crowd during transition. And Hallelujah! her costume is no longer see-through. Well done! She earns 131.63 points. Overall: 202.36.
Alena Leonova has been Russia's underdog for so long, we were afraid she would never wake up from the slumber. But this time, her only mistake is a messy Double Toeloop. Her Carmen is just as cheeky and seductive (and gorgeously dressed) as we expected. She's one of the few skaters who takes the acting part of figure skating very, very seriously. More should follow her lead. I just wish she didn't cry so much, it's heart-breaking. Her score: 114.06. Overall: 178.15.
Carolina Kostner has just made figure skating resemble the military by strategically going back to last season's Bolero routine. It's sad to think someone as good as her didn't think she could win with a new programme. We will miss the Scheherazade. This time, what stole her gold medal was her old nemesis: the Triple Lutz. She earns 122.42 points. Overall: 191.39.
Julia Liptnitskaia is not only the most flexible skater we've ever seen, but she also has the best jumping technique out there. At only 15, she wins these Europeans with an emotional and outstanding performance. Her score: 139.75. Overall: 209.72.After four sombre programmes that kept us on the edge of our seats, Mae Berenice Meite feels like a breath of fresh air. Skating on blues and the famous We Will Rock You, she knows she's got nothing to lose and manages to end the competition almost unharmed. The only mistake was a Triple Loop with a bad landing. She earns 114.73 points. Overall: 173.37.
Valentina Marchei might not have the show factor of Sotnikova, Aleonova, Kostner or Liptnitskaia, but she's an absolute delight to watch. Elegant, expressive and cool even when she falls on the Triple Loop, has a hand down on the Triple Salchow and messes up the Triple Flip, Valentina will be missed if she decides to retire after this season. Her score: 107.87. Overall: 165.25.
As Adelina Sotnikova's dream fades, Julia Lipnitskaia becomes European Champion at her first European Championships EVER. Congratulations to both of them for truly being extraordinary tonight. Carolina Kostner leaves us with a bitter taste after this competition, but she'll forever remain the most graceful skater we know of.
They are the best
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