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Post by Admin on Jan 16, 2014 6:12:31 GMT
Adelina Sotnikova and Julia Lipnitskaia gave Russia a 1-2 lead after the women's short program at the European figure skating championships on Wednesday. Sotnikova repeated her result from last year's Europeans, where she also had the best score in the short program. However, she was overtaken in the free skate by Kostner and finished second. While the free skate on Friday could determine which of the three Russians will fill the host country's two slots at the Olympic Games in Sochi next month, Sotnikova said she did not have the internal competition on her mind. "I am only here to skate," she said. Adelina Sotnikova of Russia performs during the women's short program at the European Figure Skating Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014. Sotnikova's routine to music from George Bizet's "Carmen" opera was gracious and fluid, and earned her the second-best score for artistic merit, just a tenth of a point behind Kostner. "It wasn't perfect yet, there were little mistakes, but overall I am pleased with it," Sotnikova said. "I got a new season's best score and this is what I need in this competition."
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Post by Admin on Jan 16, 2014 14:32:03 GMT
Lipnitskaia's opening triple lutz-triple toe loop combination, the same jump used by American Gracie Gold to begin her short program at the U.S. Championships last week, was the most difficult of all the jumps executed at the event. It also helped her score the highest total for technical elements, 38.06. Only 15 years old and taking part in her first European Championships, her style points were third behind Kostner and Sotnikova. Lipnitskaia's routine was also noticeably faster than the others', especially her final spin — a change foot combination, though she said it came naturally to her. "If you skate too slow, it's not feeling comfortable at all," she said. "I'm trying to be fast on the ice and I don't think it's hard for me because I am little bit smaller than the other competitors."
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Post by Admin on Jan 17, 2014 4:53:38 GMT
Carolina Kostner of Italy reacts after performing the Ladies Short Program of the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Budapest, January 15, 2014.
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Post by Admin on Jan 17, 2014 15:45:20 GMT
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Post by Admin on Jan 17, 2014 21:37:10 GMT
Carolina Kostner won the bronze medal at the European Figure Skating Championships.
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