Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri (ITA) in the Ice Dance Rhythm Dance at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Kaunas (LTU) © ISU
Reigning European Ice Dance Champions Charlène Guignard/Marco Fabbri (ITA) danced to the lead in the Rhythm Dance at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Kaunas (LTU) Friday.
Guignard/Fabbri top Rhythm Dance
Reigning ISU European Champions Charlene Guignard/Marco Fabbri of Italy took the first step towards defending their title by winning the Rhythm Dance ahead of their strong rivals, Great Britain’s Lilah Fear/Lewis Gibson. To the delight of the home crowd, Lithuania’s Allison Reed/Saulius Ambruvelicius are currently ranked third.
Dancing to “Holding Out for a Hero” and “Against All Odds”, Guignard/Fabbri put on a dynamic performance that was highlighted by intricate footwork and a straight line lift.
The reigning ISU World silver medalists collected a level four for the twizzles and the lift, while the pattern dance step sequence and her part of the midline step sequence was rated a level three for her and a level two for him. Guignard/Fabbri slightly improved their season’s best with 86.80 points.
“The competition is not finished, but today we felt very good on the ice. We enjoyed the program a lot and we are very, very happy,” Guignard said.
“We know that we are the reigning Champions from last season, so it is not easy to skate when you know you have to defend the title,” Fabbri shared.
“Last year we were really stressed about winning the Europeans. This year we are not that stressed, maybe it's because we are more mature, or it's because we've already achieved it last year. We are approaching the competition differently. We are enjoying it much more and hopefully we will continue enjoying it until the end of Free Dance,” he continued.
Fear/Gibson produced another great dance to “Sweet Dreams”, earning exactly the same levels for their elements as the Italians. The European silver medalists achieved a season’s best of 85.20 points.
Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson (GBR) in the Ice Dance Rhythm Dance at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Kaunas (LTU) © ISU
“We always enjoy performing at competitions, but focus is very important in order to execute what we train, staying as on and staying calm as the energy builds. We really let in the joy, the fun and entertainment, but also we are really focused on our technique,” Fear commented.
“This is our highest score this season so we can’t ask for more than that right now, and we both are just super satisfied and proud,” Gibson added.
The crowd’s cheers gathered even more momentum when hometown skaters Reed/Ambrulevicius took to the ice, as the last pair to skate.
Allison Reed and Saulius Ambrulevicius (LTU) in the Ice Dance Rhythm Dance at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Kaunas (LTU) © ISU
The two-time ISU Grand Prix bronze medalists completed level-four twizzles and a level-four lift as well as level-three step sequences in their routine to “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Paradise City” by Guns’n Roses. They scored 80.73 points.
“Oh, it is out of this world (to perform on home ice). The crowd was so amazing. They filled us with so much energy, so much love and support, and we could not have asked for a better crowd today and a better place to perform,” Reed shared.
“It was fantastic for me to hear everyone chanting ‘Lithuania’ and then during every element they give you this big cheer, it is out of this world. It was so much fun and an extra boost of energy towards the end where you're just having fun,” Ambrulevicius agreed.
ISU Grand Prix de France and Skate America bronze medalists Evgeniia Lopareva/Geoffrey Brissaud (FRA) finished fourth with a dance to songs by French singer Mylene Farmer (78.47 points). Natalie Taschlerova/Filip Taschler (CZE) celebrated a successful comeback after his back injury to rank fifth on 76.68 points. 2023 ISU European bronze medalists Juulia Turkkila/Matthias Versluis (FIN) are standing in sixth at 76.36 points.
For full results please see here.
Schedule of the event
The schedule of the ISU European Figure Skating Championships is as follows:
Wednesday, January 10: Pairs & Men’s Short Programs
Thursday, January 11: Women’s Short Program, Pairs Free Skating
Friday, January 12: Rhythm Dance & Men’s Free Skating
Saturday, January 13: Women’s Free Skating & Free Dance
Sunday, January 14: Exhibition Gala
For full entries and results, please see the ISU event page and the official website. Follow the discussion on social media using #EuroFigure and #FigureSkating.
Where to watch the ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2024:
The ISU European Figure Skating Championships will be live streamed on the Skating ISU YouTube Channel. Geo-restrictions will apply in markets where TV rights are in place. You will find the full list in the Where to Watch news here.
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