Rising star from land of rising sun skates onto podium
Published 25 November, 2007, 01:08
Figure-skating pair Yuko Kawaguchi and Aleksandr Smirnov have finished third in the Cup of Russia in Moscow. The Japanese-born performer and her Russian partner are on their way to qualifying for the Grand Prix finals and, hopefully, in the longer term, the Winter Olympics.
Yuko, who aims to be the first person not born in a former Soviet country to represent Russia in figure skating, had to stand back and admire as Chinese couple Dan Zhang and Hao Zhang took the event.
Yuko has been under legendary Tamara Moskvina's wing for eight years and she is looking forward to skating under the Russian flag in the Olympics. She teamed up with Alexander Smirnov in 2006 under Moskvina's guidance.
While that's some time away, the short-term goal has been achieved and the decision to pair the skaters is now paying off.
On Friday, Yuko Kawaguchi and Aleksander Smirnov were less than a point away from the podium after their short programme. After a somewhat shaky start on Saturday they managed to raise their performance and were leading with just two pairs left to perform.
The duo's performance earned them their highest score of the season, but Yuko said their presentation needs more work.
The pair finished in third place behind the Chinese pair and a pair from Germany, but they are looking for further improverment.
If they keep this up and take at least sixth place overall at the next Grand Prix in Japan, they will earn a place in the final which takes place in Italy in December.
discuss it
