Niina Petrokina Reclaims European Title
In an inspiring display of determination and skill, Niina Petrokina reclaimed her title at the European Figure Skating Championships on Friday, just three months following an Achilles tendon surgery. Competing in Sheffield, England, the Estonian skater achieved an impressive personal best by executing seven triple jumps during her free skate, which was performed to the dramatic soundtrack from the film Dune. This remarkable performance earned her a total of 216.14 points, showcasing that she is a formidable contender as she heads into the upcoming Winter Olympics.
Reflecting on Recovery
Reflecting on her recovery journey, Petrokina remarked,
“I don’t know how I do it. I needed everything that happened for this moment.”
The athlete had limited her competition schedule since undergoing surgery in October, opting to participate in lower-tier events and her national championships. Her road to recovery was notably challenging; she battled ongoing discomfort following her breakthrough win on home ice at the previous European championship.
Historic Achievement
With this latest victory, Petrokina has become the first woman since Russia’s Evgenia Medvedeva in 2017 to successfully defend the European title. This year’s event saw other athletes struggling under pressure; Belgium’s 2024 champion Loena Hendrickx, who had ranked fifth after the short program, secured a silver medal with a total of 191.26 points after overcoming a lingering ankle injury that troubled her the previous year. In a gesture of respect, Hendrickx bowed to Petrokina during the score announcement. Italy’s Lara Naki Gutmann rounded out the podium with a bronze medal, scoring 186.87 points, while top performers from the short program faltered during their free skates, leading to significant changes in placement for others, including Nina Pinzarrone of Belgium and Anna Pezzetta of Italy, who fell from higher ranks.
Ice Dance Competition
In the ice dance competition, France’s Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron were in a strong position, leading the event amidst controversy stemming from Cizeron’s past partnership. He previously won the Olympic gold in 2022 alongside Gabriella Papadakis, who recently released a book characterizing their relationship as inequitable. Cizeron has disputed her claims, branding them as part of a “smear campaign.” On Friday, it was also revealed that Papadakis has lost her commentary role with NBC for the Winter Olympics. Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron secured a top score of 86.93 points, placing them ahead of Britain’s Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson (85.47) and Italy’s Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri (84.48) ahead of the free dance competition set for Saturday.
