Suomen Taitoluistelu has announced choices for next Euros in Bern here:
http://www.stll.fi/?x2126=1760975
Laura’s decided not to participate, so the three spots are gone to Kiira (of course), Juulia Turkkila (new Finnish Junior Champion) and Cecilia Torn, who collected a score (126,01) just a little bit better than Beata Papp (125,40).
Questionable decision, in my opinion: like happened for male field, preferring Valtter Virtanen to Bela Papp due to a strange criteria. Maybe well known, but the same criticizable.
In any case, it’ll be impossible to save three female spots, in such conditions.
good luck)))
Kiira could win Gold at Europeans. All she has to do is beat Carolina Kostner. I think Kiira is the better skater this season, so I’m betting the farm on her. At Worlds is where the real competition will be–Kim Yuna, Alissa Czisny, Mao Asada, Miki Ando…but that’s later. US Nats is looking exciting right now–looks like it will be Alissa Czisny Gold; Nagasu Silver; Flatt Bronze. Busy week in figure skating!
We all hope you’re right, Mike… but it won’t be so easy, I fear. Carolina got silver at GP Finals, and she’s in very good shape this season. But I think Kiira should be happy reaching the podium, doesn’t matter which step: a medal is a medal, it remains for life. And there are other great skaters, like Leonova, Marchei, Glebova, Makarova: in a single event so special, everything could happens…
Kiira just got 1st in the short program (63.50), she’s 10 points ahead of Carolina Kostner. Looks like Kiira will get Gold at Europeans, this is good news!
Wow, what an upset! Kostner comes up with a 115 Freeskate for 168.54 for Silver, then Meier wins the Gold with 170.60. But Kiira gets the Bronze with her 166.40 and Makarova is 4th with 162.04. –When I woke up this morning I sensed that things would not go as planned. Over half the Ladies fell during the Freeskate, was something not right with the ice? There’s 15 types of ice, by the way. Ice is most slippery at -7 degrees.