This is the first of our two previews for the 2016 European Championships. For our preview of the men’s event, click here.
We’re still catching our breath from US Nationals, and we can’t believe that it’s already the beginning of the end. We start heading toward the end of the season with the European Championships. The only question worth asking is “Will it be another Russian sweep or will someone be able to play spoiler?”
Perhaps the heaviest favorite to win the competition is Evgenia Medvedeva. For someone who is only in her debut year as a senior, she has been on fire all season long. She has not finished lower than second-place so far, and it doesn’t look like she’s going to stop any time soon. It will take costly mistakes (and other skaters doing well) to knock her off the podium.
Another one who has yet to finish off the podium this season is last year’s silver medalist Elena Radionova. She has been consistent so far, save for making a few costly mistakes. Although a spot on the podium has probably been saved for her, she is going to have to be perfect if she wants that championship.
Russian Nationals was definitely Anna Pogorilaya’s redemption story. After a disastrous showing at both Cup of China and NHK Trophy, she managed to win a bronze medal at Russian Nationals. She is skating some of the best programs we’ve seen from her so far, and we hope that she has it in her to skate like she did at Russian nationals for at least one more time.
Perhaps the best candidate to play spoiler to the Russian sweep is Joshi Helgesson. After placing fourth at Europeans, we’re sure she’s looking to medal this time. Consistency has always been her weakness, and we hope she has managed to work on that from the last time we saw her in competition.
After placing third at the short program at Trophee Eric Bompard, Roberta Rodeghiero is someone to watch out for. She has been relatively solid all season long, and she might continue to surprise people at the competition.
Other skaters worth watching out for are Mae-Berenice Meite and Anne Line Gjersem who are out to prove that they can’t be written off just yet; Nicole Rajicova, looking to improve her world ranking after two seventh-place finishes at her Grand Prix assignments; Laurine Lecavelier, Angelina Kuchvalska, and Anastasia Galustyan, all aiming for Top 10 finishes at Europeans this year; Isabelle Olsson, Nathalie Weinzierl, Viveca Lindfors, and Ivett Toth, all looking for a breakout competition this season.
Now, our predicted rankings:
You Only Lutz Once 