Russian teens dominate Euros

Russian teens dominate Euros

Russian trio, Elena Radionova, Elizaveta Tuktamysheva and Anna Pogorilaya, all aged between 16 and 18, dominated the women's short programme at the European figure skating championships on Thursday.

Elena Radionova of Russia performs on ice during the ladies short program of the ISU European Figure Skating Championships on January 29, 2015 in Stockholm, Sweden

The three opened up a commanding lead over fourth-placed Kiira Korpi of Finland with the 26-year-old already six points behind the leading group.

Radionova led the way on 70.46 points after a programme skated to works by Pepe Romero and Jennifer Lopez.

Petite and blonde Radionova, the first skater in history to win two world junior titles (2013, 2014), is on course to add the European title to her two victories on the Grand Prix circuit.

"The short programme was completely successful, now it all comes down to the free programme," said the leader, who shrugged off fears of injury when she skated with heavy strapping on her back.

"I had a backache in my practice sessions and we decided to leave it on, but the pain hasn't been bothering me at all."

One point behind is compatriot Tuktamysheva who collected 69.02 points to a performance to Ravel's Bolero.

Also 18, the 2013 bronze medallist who broke her foot last year, is just ahead of 16-year-old Pogorilaya, (66.10 points).

"The most important thing at the moment is to skate calmly and cleanly, to do every element and do it well," said Tuktamysheva, who is coached by the charismatic Alexei Mishin.

"The music was very quiet, that makes it quite difficult to be so expressive."

Pogorilaya is taking part in her first Europeans but was fourth at the 2014 world championships in March last year.

"My experience at the worlds didn't help that much as everything is completely different. There are different faces, different people," she said.

"There's no Yu-na (Kim), Yulia (Lipnitskaia), or Carolina (Kostner). Everything is different."

Later Thursday, France's Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron won the ice dancing title for their first major crown.

Papadakis, 19, and 20-year-old Cizeron scored 179.97 points to defeat world and European champions Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte of Italy (171.52 points).

Russia's Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin took bronze (160.95).

The French pair danced their free programme to Adagio from Mozart's 23rd Piano Concerto, setting a new personal record of 108.91pts.

"It's the programme that I wanted from them since they were youngsters," said their coach Romain Haguenauer.

"Their quality tonight was that they have been skating together for 10 years. They possess a long experience in working on their moves. They perform like they are one.

"They are very respectful partners and respectful of one another. They never raise their voices."

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