For me, the ladies’ event at this year’s edition of Trophée Eric Bompard was about this beautiful and talented Russian girl, Butyrskaya in the making, the 15-year-old Anna Pogorilaya.
by Florentina Tone
Anna Pogorilaya in Paris, at the 2013 Trophee Eric Bompard
Anna had a weak start at the Grand Prix event in Paris – she missed her double Axel in the short program and was on the verge of bursting into tears in the Kiss and Cry. In the free skating, at the end of her program the Russian seemed to have almost lost her breath; the young skater was indeed very nervous during the routine – she fought for every landing and you could see she had a hard time on the ice. But she won the battle with herself and with her nerves – and I applaud her for that. In spite of the shaky skating in the free, Anna hasn’t lost her consistency, proving that winning Cup of China, two weeks ago, was not an accident.
Second after the short and third at the end of the ladies’ event in Paris, Anna Pogorilaya successfully enters the Grand Prix Final in Fukuoka, in December – and she definitely hadn’t seen that coming… Why do I compare her with Maria Butyrskaya? Well, there’s number of reasons: the look, the talent, the posture on the ice – and the nerves, too.
Anna during her free skating (2013 Trophee Eric Bompard)
Adelina Sotnikova, on the other hand, was very good in the free program at this year’s edition of TEB; the “encounter” with Pogorilaya (who defeated her at Cup of China) might have been an additional stimulus for her. Adelina was confident and precise, had clean and strong landings – and her preciseness brought her the second place at Trophée Eric Bompard. Hadn’t she missed her double Axel in the short (the same mistake as Anna) Adelina would have fought for the gold in Paris.
Adelina, at the 2013 TEB, during her free program
The winner of the ladies’ event was – as last year – the American Ashley Wagner. Ashley was sure and consistent (I have rarely seen her making mistakes) and those two very well skated programs got her a brand new gold medal in Paris. She does pose too much for my taste during her routines – but she looks solid and prepared to fight for an Olympic medal in Sochi, next year in February.
Ashley won her second gold at Trophee Eric Bompard in Paris
At the end, just a little something: I particularly enjoyed the programs of the American Samantha Cesario. What a wonderful Carmen she was in the free!
Samantha Cesario as “Carmen”, at the 2013 edition of TEB
The podium in the ladies’ event at 2013 TEB
1. Ashley Wagner: 194.37 points
2. Adelina Sotnikova: 189.81 points
3. Anna Pogorilaya: 184.69 points