Post by Admin on Apr 1, 2016 5:23:36 GMT
Women: Two Russian teens are among the favorites for the title, but not the one who was the sensation of the Sochi team competition. Or the one who went on to win the individual Olympic gold medal. Or the one who earned the world title last year.
Not on Russia’s team are Julia Lipnitskaia, the then-15-year-old who won team gold; Adelina Sotnikova, the individual Olympic champ at age 17; and Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, who won worlds last year at 18. That’s how deep the Russian women are. This year’s contenders are 16-year-old Evgenia Medvedeva, the Grand Prix Final and European champion, and Elena Radionova, 17, who won bronze at last year’s worlds.
Gracie Gold, who was born in the Boston area, may be the Americans’ best chance at an individual medal. The 20-year-old was fourth at worlds last year and at the Olympics. She has the jumps and artistry to make the podium and good vibes at TD Garden, where she won her first U.S. title in 2014. But she has never put everything together at a major international competition.
On Wednesday, March 30, at Boston the main event of the season for skaters starts - the World Cup. Russian athletes will compete for medals in four disciplines, but a real chance for the awards are only available in two forms - the women's figure skating competitions and sports pairs. The most current news and the intrigue of the upcoming World Cup - in the "Lenta.ru" material.
At last year's world championships in Shanghai Russian figure skating team took only two awards. Both were won by our girls: Elizabeth Tuktamysheva won gold, Elena Radionova - bronze, a CSKA young school pupil and we will see her in Boston. Lena has all chances to improve the outcome of last season and even become the new world champion.
Evgeny Medvedeva is considered the main contender for the medal of the highest standard. All full-time rivalry between the two skaters this season ended in her favor. Besides star Eugene at senior level it broke out here, on American soil. Her first loud victory was won in Milwaukee at Skate America in late October of 2015. Since then, the creative tandem Eugene Medvedeva and her coach Eteri Tutberidze was unbeaten. And the home arena of "Boston Celtic" should play a skater on hand, because the players of this team are called "bears".
Of course, Anna Pogorilaya can not be discounted, and bronze medalist of the European Championship this year. However, she can not boast the stability - it is not always possible to meet in a crucial moment. Besides the Russians, for a place in the top three American women will compete - Gracie Gold and Ashley Wagner. Japanese Satoko Miyahara looks very confident in this season who won the Four Continents Championships. It is capable of much, and her teammate Mao Asada, a three-time world champion, recently returned to the sport after a long break.