Niina Petrokina took the lead at the European Championships after the short program this Thursday.
Estonian Niina Petrokina, defending champion, took the lead at the European Figure Skating Championships after the short program on Wednesday in Sheffield (Great Britain).
First of the last group to start, the Estonian set the bar high from the start by obtaining 70.61 points, a personal best, despite a first part of the season weighed down by injuries. Before the free scheduled for Friday, she has a comfortable lead of almost six points over her runner-up, the Belgian Nina Pinzarrone (64.97 pts), also injured at the start of the season. The Italian Anna Pezzetta completes the provisional podium with 64.85 points.
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“Two months ago I couldn’t even imagine that I would be here and today I am doing my best short program”welcomed Petrokina with a big smile. “On Friday I just hope I can put in a clean performance in the free”. The continental competition takes place without Russian skaters, still suspended by the International Federation due to the war in Ukraine.
But at the Milan Olympics, a Russian was authorized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to compete under neutral status: the young Adeliia Petrosian, 18, who could shake up the hierarchy. Among the French, Lorine Schild provisionally occupies 13th place with 56.14 points. La Rémoise was penalized by a heavy fall on her triple toe loop in the middle of the program and a hand placed on the ice when landing her inaugural triple Lutz. She is one place ahead of the other tricolor in the running, Léa Serna (55.72 pts).
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