Anna Shcherbakova (RUS), Alena Kostornaia (RUS), Alexandra Trusova (RUS) at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2020©International Skating Union (ISU)
At the beginning of the season, the skating world was curious to see how the Russian “triple A team” of Alena Kostornaia, Anna Shcherbakova and Alexandra Trusova would fare in their international senior-level debut. Led by Kostornaia, the teenagers swept the podium at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final and the ISU European Figure Skating Championships.
Kostornaia set a new highest score in the Short Program (85.45 points) and total score (247.59 points) in Turin at the Final. She showed exquisite performances and included the triple Axel into her programs. She was at the top again at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Graz.
“I didn’t think I would be a European Champion. I’m happy and it’s a real surprise - my free program had a few mistakes and I’m happy I could do it. I thought I would give myself hardly a C (grade), but am happy it happened so fast and so suddenly - in my first season,” Kostornaia said.
Alena Kostornaia (RUS) at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2020©International Skating Union (ISU)
Shcherbakova took the silver medal in Turin and in Graz. She landed the quadruple Lutz several times this season, for example a quad Lutz-triple toe at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships.
Her costume change in the middle of her “Firebird” program was very popular with audiences worldwide. “In my free skate the first part is delicate and more calm and in the second half the character changes, which is underlined by the costume change. It is brighter, there is more fire, I am the firebird. I really like my program and I try to bring the emotions across to the judges and spectators,” the Muscovite explained.
Anna Shcherbakova (RUS) at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2020©International Skating Union (ISU)
Trusova was the bronze medalist in the Final and at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships. She made headlines by landing three quadruple jumps in the Free Skating at Skate Canada International and by becoming the first female skater to break the 100-points-barrier in the technical element score.
In Turin, she became the first woman to perform a clean quad flip in competition – she already has landed quad toe, Salchow and Lutz in competition. “I want to keep working on all the quads, now I only have the quad loop left,” she said in Graz. The 15-year-old has also landed the triple Axel in practice. With 166.62 points, Alexandra currently holds the highest score in the Ladies Free Skating.
Alexandra Trusova (RUS) at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2020©International Skating Union (ISU)
