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Russians Tatyana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov won gold in pair skating in Canada

Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany (206.56 points) took silver
Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS
Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

LONDON, Canada, March 16 (Itar-Tass) – Russia’s Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov have won Russia’s first gold in pairs skating at the world championships since 2005 to complement it with an unofficial world record of 149.87 points for the free skate and a final score of 225.71.

Nina Mozer’s and Stanislav Morozov’s trainees, who at last year’s world championships in Nice were second, this time performed impeccably and with tremendous inspiration from beginning to end. Not a single flaw. Even Maxim’s casual fall onto a knee between elements by no means spoiled the impression. It was just great. An incredibly high triple twist, most complex lifts, perfect landings after all jumps and the vigor and energy the athletes were literally radiating earned them record-high marks and the spectators’ enthusiastic reception.

“The guys made it,” Nina Mozer said minutes later. “True, Maxim had that fall on a knee, but he was already so emotional that there was no stopping him. I am just happy each element got the highest mark. Tanya and Maxim are now both at the peak of their form. I’ve done calculations. Here, in Canada, they have had six training sessions, and they made just one mistake. The modern rules in figure skating require not just classical performance. You’ve got to fight tooth and claw. Today they fell just one step short of their long-cherished dream – getting 150 points for the free skate.”