Skaters We'll Miss, Part 3: Aliona Savchenko with Robin Szolkowy
Saitama, March 2014: Just a couple of days after winning their fifth world title, Aliona Savchenko & Robin Szolkowy tell the press that they aren't retiring as previously planned, but splitting up. The decision comes as a shock to many fans as it means that they are unlikely to ever skate together again, not even in shows. It also means that we have to say goodbye to Robin Szolkowy, but not to his partner.
Ukrainian-born Aliona Savchenko teamed up with German-born Robin Szolkowy in 2003, after they had both failed in achieving success with their former partners. They became German national champions that very season, giving Germany hope for international recognition in pair skating for the first time since 1998, when Mandy Wotzel won a Bronze Olympic medal with Ingo Steuer, Aliona and Robin's coach.
 |
| First European title Photograph: Koici Kamoshida/Getty Images Sport |
Their first European medal, a silver, was won just two years later. But the real breakthrough happened in 2006/2007. With nothing to lose, given that everyone's favourites, Tatiana Tomianina and Maxim Marinin, had withdrawn from competitive life, they let their hair down and sore to new heights. They became European champions and Bronze World medalists with flamenco-based Once Upon a Time in Mexico and the exotic, but divine soundtrack of The Mission. Their victory at the Europeans was a historic moment as they were the first couple in 10 years to interrupt the Russian supremacy in the discipline.
2007/2008 was an even better season for them, as it brought them their first World title. They also set a new world record, 72.14 points, for their short programme. The music for the short was taken from the soundtrack of Asoka, an Indian film about the life of a Mauryan emperor. Cirque du Soleil's sad violins of L'Oiseau provided music for the long routine. It now became clear that their best elements were original lifts and incredibly high throw jumps.
They defended both European and World titles the following season, becoming the first German pair since 1964 to win two World titles consecutively. Their short skate featured the music of Lost in Space and some seriously colourful and shiny costumes, showcasing their tendency of standing out through unique programmes and creative outfits. They cut back on the funk in the long, portraying a story about humanity's saddest event: the Holocaust. Schindler's List proved that they could skate on any music, from the funniest to the most tragic. It also proved their stamina was second to no one's, with a throw Triple Salchow planned on the last note of the music.
2009/2010 came with another array of achievements, among which was another world record, this time for their combined score, 206.71 points, in Skate Canada. They also became the first skaters ever to receive a 10.0 from a judge. Ironically though, they lost their European title to Russians Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov. The Olympic Games were another disappointment, as it only brought them a Bronze medal. The Worlds ended in a silver medal. For the short programme, the two looked adorable dressed up as clowns even though the song Send in the Clowns by Stephen Sondheim is a sad piece about how life sometimes feels like a bad joke. They initially set their long programme to Richard Rodger's You'll Never Walk Alone, but decided early in the season that it didn't resonate with their style. They replaced it with John Barry's Out of Africa, a story of gaining love and losing it, which is their most beautiful long programme.
2010/2011 was their best season. They won every single competition they entered, reclaiming the European and World gold medals, set a new world record and became the darlings of shows on ice. Artistically, it was their funniest season. They skated on Korobushka in the short. The most famous Russian folk song brought out their comical side, which was even better highlighted by the best long programme they've ever had, The Pink Panther. From the costumes, which were designed by Aliona, as all their costumes have been, to the choreography, to the hilarious facial expressions of an oblivious Clouseau and an elusive Panther, this routine was without a doubt their greatest moment of glory. That is why they went back to it as a last resort in 2013/2014.
2011/2012 was the season in which they started to practice the throw Triple Axel, a jump that had been executed successfully only by one pair, Americans Rena Inoue and Joe Baldwin (2006 Olympics). The only time Aliona landed the jump was at the World Championships, but she double-footed it. They didn't give up though and the throw Triple Axel became their goal for the rest of their career together. Programme-wise, the synchronicity of the choreography with the choral music of Angels and Demons, the soundtrack of their short routine, gave us chills. The long routine was a tribute to Pina Bausch, a German choreographer. Ingo Steuer, who was also their choreographer, used positions created by Pina herself in the lifts and transitions, to make their performance authentic.
Their decline started the following season, when they lost their European and World titles to their greatest rivals, Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov. The rivalry between the two pairs had long been predicted by Aliona, who saw the potential the two Russians had together. Some might argue that their short programme, featuring the song Kismet by Bond was less interesting than their previous routines. There was something controversial about the free skate as well. Set to Flamenco Bolero by Gustavo Montesano, the long programme had them wearing the most colourful costumes they had ever put on. Many people said they were also the ugliest, which made the two alter them for the major competitions. Robin's costume, in particular, had to be modified because ISU regulations don't allow men to wear tights. They managed to land the Triple Axel at the Worlds, but the jump was downgraded.
In their last season together, their chances of becoming Olympic champions looked slim, through no fault of their own. They won all the Grand Prix competitions, but the Russians were still everyone's bet for the gold medal. For half of the season, their short skate music was an ode to the sport they were so passionate about - When Winter Comes by Andre Rieu. The programme seemed like the perfect way of ending their amateur careers, but when it didn't score them high-enough marks, they turned their Pink Panther routine into a short one and used it instead. The Nutcracker by P.I. Tchaikovsky was the first piece of classical music they ever skated on. Their decision to go with it felt like crossing a barrier before withdrawing, to prove to themselves and to everyone who watched them, that they are a versatile pair for whom no type of music is a challenge.
Despite not winning the Olympic gold medal, Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy have undoubtedly become the proudest moment of German figure skating. Their creativity and chemistry on ice, paired with daring elements, has turned them into icons of the sport which will never be forgotten. As their partnership has come to an end, we wish Robin the best of luck in this new stage of his life and we wait impatiently for Aliona to show us the results of her new partnership with Bruno Massot.
NEXT IN SKATERS WE'LL MISS: Meryl Davis and Charlie White
2007/2008 was an even better season for them, as it brought them their first World title. They also set a new world record, 72.14 points, for their short programme. The music for the short was taken from the soundtrack of Asoka, an Indian film about the life of a Mauryan emperor. Cirque du Soleil's sad violins of L'Oiseau provided music for the long routine. It now became clear that their best elements were original lifts and incredibly high throw jumps.
 |
| Lost in Space routine Photograph: Thomas Whitehouse/ Getty Images Europe |
2009/2010 came with another array of achievements, among which was another world record, this time for their combined score, 206.71 points, in Skate Canada. They also became the first skaters ever to receive a 10.0 from a judge. Ironically though, they lost their European title to Russians Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov. The Olympic Games were another disappointment, as it only brought them a Bronze medal. The Worlds ended in a silver medal. For the short programme, the two looked adorable dressed up as clowns even though the song Send in the Clowns by Stephen Sondheim is a sad piece about how life sometimes feels like a bad joke. They initially set their long programme to Richard Rodger's You'll Never Walk Alone, but decided early in the season that it didn't resonate with their style. They replaced it with John Barry's Out of Africa, a story of gaining love and losing it, which is their most beautiful long programme.
2010/2011 was their best season. They won every single competition they entered, reclaiming the European and World gold medals, set a new world record and became the darlings of shows on ice. Artistically, it was their funniest season. They skated on Korobushka in the short. The most famous Russian folk song brought out their comical side, which was even better highlighted by the best long programme they've ever had, The Pink Panther. From the costumes, which were designed by Aliona, as all their costumes have been, to the choreography, to the hilarious facial expressions of an oblivious Clouseau and an elusive Panther, this routine was without a doubt their greatest moment of glory. That is why they went back to it as a last resort in 2013/2014.
 |
| Modified costumes for Flamenco Bolero Photograph: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images North America |
 |
| World Champions for the last time Photograph: Chris McGrath/ Getty Images Asia |
In their last season together, their chances of becoming Olympic champions looked slim, through no fault of their own. They won all the Grand Prix competitions, but the Russians were still everyone's bet for the gold medal. For half of the season, their short skate music was an ode to the sport they were so passionate about - When Winter Comes by Andre Rieu. The programme seemed like the perfect way of ending their amateur careers, but when it didn't score them high-enough marks, they turned their Pink Panther routine into a short one and used it instead. The Nutcracker by P.I. Tchaikovsky was the first piece of classical music they ever skated on. Their decision to go with it felt like crossing a barrier before withdrawing, to prove to themselves and to everyone who watched them, that they are a versatile pair for whom no type of music is a challenge.
Despite not winning the Olympic gold medal, Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy have undoubtedly become the proudest moment of German figure skating. Their creativity and chemistry on ice, paired with daring elements, has turned them into icons of the sport which will never be forgotten. As their partnership has come to an end, we wish Robin the best of luck in this new stage of his life and we wait impatiently for Aliona to show us the results of her new partnership with Bruno Massot.
NEXT IN SKATERS WE'LL MISS: Meryl Davis and Charlie White
Comments
Post a Comment