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ISU REPORTS
Pairs, Free Skating
Xue Shen/Hongbo Zhao of China continued their successful comeback this season by winning the gold. Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy (GER) captured the silver medal while Dan Zhang/Hao Zhang (CHN) settled for the bronze this time.
Overnight leaders Shen/Zhao skated last as the starting order was the reverse of the Short Program result. Performing to “Mediation” from “Thais” by Jules Massenet, the two-time Olympic bronze medalists nailed a triple toe-double toe combination, a double Axel, a triple twist as well as a big throw triple loop and Salchow. They also completed a rarely seen forward-outside death spiral (level four), and received a level four as well for their pair combination spin, their spiral sequence, their hand-to-hip lift and their Axel Lasso lift. The two-time World Champions earned 134.53 points (68.13/66.40) and racked up a total of 203.19 points, setting a new seasonal best for themselves. “We are so happy, tonight we showed our best and we finally cracked the 200 points (total score – this season)”, a smiling Zhao told the press. “It is exciting to have won the final in Russia, and the audience welcomed us very warmly.” His partner added: “When we saw the score, over 200 points, it was just great.” The couple won the Grand Prix Final for the fifth time.
Savchenko/Szolkowy delivered an inspiring performance to “The Mission”, producing at throw triple flip, a triple toe-triple toe sequence as well as triple twist and a triple throw Salchow. The European silver medallists also completed difficult lifts and spins, that were all graded a level four by the Technical Panel. Their only mistake came when Savchenko singled the Axel. The Germans, who had won the bronze medal at the Final last year, scored 121.85 points (62.65/59.20) and collected 180.67 points overall to move up from fourth to second place. They also surpassed their previous seasonal best score. “We just had to go out and fight. It was hard, emotionally it was hard, but we wanted to show our best”, Savchenko said. “I couldn’t stand or walk after the short program. The Russian doctor gave me an injection and a massage. I just had to skate today, I was focused on that”, went on, referring to her injuries sustained in a fall in practice last Monday when she crashed into the boards. “This was our best free program of the season so far. The goal was to skate clean finally and we came close to it”, Szolkowy continued.
Zhang/Zhang opened their program to “Offspring of Dragons” with an impressive triple twist but run into trouble after that. Dan Zhang, who was obviously not feeling well, fell on the side by side triple toe and aborted the death spiral. The couple did land a throw triple loop and Salchow as well as a side by side triple Salchow, but overall they seemed slow and hesitant. The Olympic silver medallists were ranked fourth in the Free Skating with 111.75 points (54.11/58.64) and finished third at 175.93 points. “This performance was not up to our standard, we had problems with some elements. Dan Zhang is feeling ill”, Hao Zhang explained. “She has been taken to hospital, and I don’t know what’s wrong with her. She hasn’t been feeling well in practice and she felt weak in competition.”
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