Crystal Skate

Bradie Tennell took home a surprising bronze medal The ladies' competition in Grenoble started as most do these days - with Japanese and Russian skaters going against each other for the top three positions. At the end of the short programme, Japan was winning (by less than a point), but the possibility to see Russia on the podium in the form of Evgenia Medvedeva was very much real. Stanislava Konstantinova  began the event with a flawless performance of Anna Karenina . I loved the costume, the way her hair matched the era the story is from and the neckline detail that made her look as if she was wearing a pearl necklace. Score: 134.76  -> 189.67 . Laurine Lecavelier  followed with a sexier routine, set to I'll Take Care of You . Her performance was for the most part alright despite doubling out of both the 3Flip and Salchow, but then at the very end, she fell on the 3Loop. Score: 105.58  -> 157.24 Laurine Lecavelier of France I thought Matilda Al...

The ladies' SP taught me one main lesson: hierarchy in Russian female skating is as fleeting as a castle of leaves in the October wind. Okay, maybe that's being a bit over dramatic, but the thing is a world champion finished last, Cup of China's winner is not even close to the podium and there is a third Russian lady in a silver position. So, here are some of the best performances that caused this ranking: I'll start with Nicole Schott , who was in no way a threat, but had a lot of grace which came through in the alignment and use of arms in her spins. She skated to Nella Fantasia . A fall on the 3Loop hindered her score, which was 55.54  points. Mae Merenice Meite  did a great job, but didn't quite hit the mark for me, probably because I couldn't find the conenction between her two songs, except, of course, for the fact they were both by Beyonce. She's bound to get the crowds going all season long with this theme though, so it's a great choice for t...

These European Championships have turned out to be more surprising than anyone expected. With so many twists and turns in pairs and ice dance, the ladies' final feels like a breather. Then again, who knows what this evening could bring? You never do with figure skating. I'll start with Emmi Peltonen , Finland's national champion. She skates to Papa Can You Hear Me , and makes great use of her arms and body to express emotion in the transitions. Only mistake is stepping out of the triple Loop. Her score: 107.05 . Overall: 160.57 . Russia's Maria Sotskova Helery Halvin  can't seem to be able to connect with Celine Dion's I Surrender , which results in a rather stiff interpretation. Perhaps the mistakes are to blame - first Lutz is double-footed, she falls on the second, then falls again on the triple Toeloop. Her spins are quite simple although they have some nice touches. She gets 94.96  points. Overall: 146.68 . Kerstin Frank  doesn't manage t...

The ladies' competition has become one of the most exciting to watch in the past few seasons, but figure skating fans had an extra reason to watch it today. Carolina Kostner, one of the greatest European figure skaters, has returned to the competitive rink. She's done it in a time when nothing's sure anymore in the sport except that the one spot on the podium she probably still wants the most, the highest, is quite simply out of reach. The reason it is out of reach, and not just for Carolina, is Evgenia Medvedeva. Russia's national champion is possibly the greatest storyteller we've ever seen in the ladies competition. And, as she usually does, she skated perfectly in Ostrava, earning a score of 78.92 points. France's Laurine Lecavelier turned out to be the dark horse of the day Anna Pogorilaya finished right behind her teammate. Despite not making any mistakes, she looked slightly uncomfortable, which resulted in a disappointing presentation for me. ...

Against predictions, the top three places of the ladies' event are not occupied by Russian skaters. Evgenia Medvedeva may be first, but Canada's Kaetlyn Osmond is second and Japan's Satoko Miyahara is third. That doesn't mean the podium cannot still end in a full Russian victory. Elena Radionova  seems to have transitioned to a more mature style this season, skating to music like Turandot . I'm not sure if that has something to do with the fact joy seems to have been taken out of her programmes. At least in Marseilles, part of the reason is the fall on the triple Lutz and the mistake on the triple Loop. Her score: 119.83 . Overall: 188.81 . Evgenia Medvedeva, the winner Photo: Tom Szczerbowski Getty Images North America Maria Sotskova  has become the one who's got nothing to lose. She seems to display a newbie attitude, something we've seen so many times before, even from Elena when she first debuted. As the most recent Russian star, this is certai...

How many times have we said Russia is going to take the first three spots in a competition in the last few years? There is no denying where the most talent is coming from at the moment, especially since the four Russian ladies in Marseilles are not even the ones we were betting on at the beginning of the season. That doesn't mean we should ignore the Japanese and Canadian competing here. They are both powerhouses when at their best. I'd like to start by appreciating how gorgeous Satoko Miyahara  looks in her crystal blue costume for Musetta's Waltz Song . Her jumps may not be high, but they are very fast. There are some exquisite exits out of those jumps too. Her score: 74.64 . Kaeltyn Osmond is finally in top shape after the injury that set her back a couple of seasons ago Photograph: Tom Szczerbowski Getty Images North America Kaetlyn Osmond is pure sophistication on Sous le ciel du Paris  and Milord . Her body language is that of a girl in a French fashion ad ...

The ladies' short programme is going to keep us at the edge of our seats from the very start as the best skaters in Paris are all competing in the first group. Is this the ISU's new way to attract more viewers from the very start of the competition? Let me know what you think, but first, let's see what the girls bring on the ice tonight. This season is not going well for Gracie Gold . She double-foots the triple Toeloop, doubles out of the triple Flip and singles the Axel. This is nothing short of a disaster for a skater who came close to wining the Worlds last season. Her score: 54.87 . Mao Asada getting ready to be 'witchy' Photo: Tasos Katopodis Getty Images North America Evgenia Medvedeva  offers a staggering contrast to the American. Her ability to tell a story gives me goosebumps, from her expressions to the way the programme, set to River Flows in You , is put together. Her stamina is also incredible, doing all the jumps after the step sequence. She...