RCN Worldwide Media Network: Irina Khavronina – Dario Chirisano won the Russian Championship in Saransk, Vasilisa Kaganovskaya – Valery Angelopol won silver, Sofia Tyutyunina – Alexander Shustitsky

Saturday, January 22, 2022

Irina Khavronina – Dario Chirisano won the Russian Championship in Saransk, Vasilisa Kaganovskaya – Valery Angelopol won silver, Sofia Tyutyunina – Alexander Shustitsky – bronze

According to Federation of Russian Figure Skating, Irina Khavronina - Dario Chirisano won the Championship of Russia among juniors in Saransk in the competition of dance pairs, scoring 182.77 points for two programs. Vasilisa Kaganovskaya – Valery Angelopol became silver medalists, losing to the champions by only 71 hundredths of a point. Sofia Tyutyunina – Alexander Shustitsky won bronze medals (178.12).

To the bronze of last year's championship of Russia Irina Khavronina - Dario Chirisano added the gold of the current one. Vasilisa Kaganovskaya – Valery Angelopol for the first time in their career achieved a medal of the junior championship of Russia. Sofia Tyutyunina - Alexander Shustitsky missed the last junior championship due to a serious injury to the leg of his partner. Bronze is their first medal at the Russian Junior Championships.

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A month before the start in Saransk, Irina Khavronina - Dario Chirisano changed the free program to the music of "Kumparsita", which was staged by Nikolai Morozov, Alexey Gorshkov, Irina Zhuk and Alexander Svinin.

- This is the debut of our new dance, because we completely changed the music and

the production. The grand prix final was prepared with the old program, but when it was canceled, they decided to change something to reach a more adult level, so the production was made a little more mature, and the new music is more consistent with the senior level. We realized that we made a little mistake at the beginning, because the previous program - in it we looked more mature than the music, the music did not help us.

So far, there is nothing to compare the rental of a new dance. In terms of emotions, in terms of the technical part, it turned out well. Today we tried to give the maximum. I hope everyone enjoyed it. Unlike the legendary "Kumparsita" by Lyudmila Pakhomova and Alexander Gorshkov, we have a more modern production, but still we tried to convey emotions, all the passions of love, - commented Irina Khavronina.

"Because love of all ages is submissive," Dario added.

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- It's good that a lot of coaches are working with us now, because Alexey Yurievich sees us in his own way, and Irina Vladimirovna Zhuk and Alexander Vasilyevich Svinin see us differently. They make different comments, and we can connect everything. Therefore, joint productions turn out to be good, - said Irina.

The leaders after the rhythm dance at the championship of Russia Vasilisa Kaganovskaya - Valery Angelopol eventually took second place, winning his first silver medal of the national championship. Anzhelika Krylova's students made a mistake on support, which is why they did not score points.

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- We haven't figured out what happened yet. But there is no time to be upset and there is nothing to be upset about, there is peace ahead," Valery said. - Our task was to at least get there. It would be great if we took the first place, but the support let us down, so we will work, prepare for the junior world, correct mistakes.

At this championship, of course, we skated much more confidently than anywhere else in the last two years. But a ridiculous mistake knocked you out of the lead. It's ridiculous, because at all the starts the support was obtained. I can't tell you why. Just a ridiculous oversight. There was no excitement, we drove confidently and the first three elements were done calmly," Valery said.

- It wasn't the best rental. There's a lot to work on. We will take into account all the mistakes and we will prepare for the World Cup," Vasilisa said.

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To the journalist's question, how important is the internal alignment at the championship of Russia before the YCHM? Do you think international judges will be guided by it?

- We can't answer that because judges judge. All we have to do is ride," Vasilisa said.

- We came to the Grand Prix stages with the 7th place in Russia, and nothing, we managed to win. We went to this championship with the idea of fighting, and not that we had already won it. We fought, not everything worked out, we dispersed in the hundredths, - Valery explained.

Sofia Tyutyunina - Alexander Shustitsky were second after the rhythm dance in Saransk, but on the sum of two programs they won their first bronze of the national championship.

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- I didn't like the rental today. There were many moments where, in particular, I screwed up, - said Alexander. - I don't know why. Perhaps out of nervousness. Maybe from the fact that I slightly injured my back yesterday in training. But there are, of course, many points that need to be corrected by the next starts. And we're going to work on that.

The partner explained that the injury was not critical. An old back injury took its toll.

- The back is the frame, it holds us. If there is a bad back, you will not be able to skate normally, - said Alexander.

"When your back hurts, it's twice as difficult to ride," Sofia added.

According to the athletes, the excitement at the start was associated with the selection for the YCHM.

- The Russian Championship is generally an important start. One of the most important of the season. In Russia, as a rule, the highest competition, and to be in the TOP in Russia is the most difficult," said Sofia.

The fourth in Saransk were Sofia Leontieva - Daniil Gorelkin (172.88).

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