Best and Worst of 2012/2013, Part 8

Every season new wonder-children seem to emerge out of Russia. Some make it, most fade away. But there's two ladies in particular that despite being so new we're still having trouble spelling their names correctly, have already made sure we'll forever remember them. Emerging out of a sea of ridiculously skilled skaters, for Adelina Sotnikova and Elizaveta Tuktamysheva this season was, before everything else, about proving they can stand out and shine on their own.

At age 16, Adelina Sotnikova seems to have made a pact with herself not to mess up the moment she's been waiting for all her life: her debut on senior international ice. Dressed in a beautiful black dress, with a red flower in her hair, the teenager skated a mature short programme on the song Capriccio Espagnol. With an almost flawless jumping technique, incredible spinning speed and a complex choreography, this routine was the perfect introduction to the world of senior figure skating. It was almost screaming: "I'm here and I'm not leaving without reaching the very top."

For the long programme she chose the soundtrack of Burlesque and just by seeing the smile with which she always skated it, you can already guess the name of one of her favourite films. Her attitude is what made it  a fresh, fun routine - she knew when to smile, when to smirk, when to be serious, when to have a laugh with it. Technically, she's so flexible she could probably pull off any pose and she delivered some of the most beautiful spins of the season. All in all, there is not a single element in the programme she didn't ace, which made her stand out as the best of the two new Russian ladies.

Placing Elizaveta Tuktamysheva in the 'Worst Category' almost seems like a crime. The Russian was in no way one of the worst skaters of the season, but when compared to Sotnikova, her light did shine a little less bright.

Having Alexei Mishin as your coach gives you great publicity, so we expected big things from her even before seeing her. Her debut was a lot more anticipated than Sotnikova's, especially because last year she won every single Grand Prix competition she skated in.

Her short programme didn't disappoint, despite failing to rise to the top in the big competitions. As soon as the music (Adios Nonino), started, her facial expression changed and she suddenly didn't look like a 16-year-old anymore. She was so committed to the music and to what it expressed that her interpretation sent chills down your spine. And yet, something was missing. Technically, she was inconsistent in her jumps throughout the season, but artistically, the programme seemed a bit overwhelming. Maybe it was because of the entirely black outfit or because of her heavy make-up, but she didn't seem to have so much fun on ice as Sotnikova. With everyone expecting the very finest skating of her, she looked like she couldn't handle the pressure.

Her long routine followed the same register of somber music (Dark Eyes) and somber costume, which makes me wonder if we're seeing a pattern she's going to follow throughout her career. Let's hope not because the worst thing a skater could do is get stuck in a programme style. Once more, her interpretation was exquisite and you just have to love the things she can do with her arms. If she could just stay technically consistent, which she sure seems like she can, there is nothing stopping her from rising to the very top.

Comparing Adelina Sotnikova and Elizaveta Tuktamysheva is like comparing water and oil. One's fun and fresh, making you want to jump out of your chair and dance with her, while the other is deep and somber, almost bringing tears into your eyes. In a way, they're two sides of the same coin. The challenge for both of them is trying on the other's style and ace it, so they can prove they can skate on any type of music.