SOCHI PERSPECTIVES
The pre-Olympic World Championships is such a delicate competition not just for being the national qualification for Olympic games, but also is it will determine the whole season going into the biggest event.
With Olympics being in Sochi, a lot of expectations will be for Volosozhar/Trankov aiming for a gold medal. The Russian couple has never won a world title, instead of their direct rivals Savchenko/Szolkowy who have won four in their career so far, but this year it could be theirs. They have been very inconsistant during the fall season but worked hard and won their consecutive European title over the Germans, beating them for the first time in an entire event. If they can win in Canada, they will set themselves as favourites for an Olympic gold.
The Olympic title is aimed by Savchenko/Szolkowy in the same way as the Russians as it is the only achievement they are missing. The former world champions have a supreme skating quality and a slightly more difficult technical content than Volosozhar/Trankov's and that's why, with both teams skating at their fullest potential, Savchenko/Szolkowy should come in first.
The Olympic title is aimed by Savchenko/Szolkowy in the same way as the Russians as it is the only achievement they are missing. The former world champions have a supreme skating quality and a slightly more difficult technical content than Volosozhar/Trankov's and that's why, with both teams skating at their fullest potential, Savchenko/Szolkowy should come in first.
CANADIAN HOPES
Talking about technical content, Duhamel/Radford probably have the most difficult programs ever skated by a pair (with maybe the exception of Sui/Han, attending worlds after a season troubled by injury, landing quad twist and quad throws). The Canadian team won at Four Continents displaying all their technical abilities including a side by side triple lutz. These two have a real shot for a bronze medal and could make the home crowd proud of them.
They will find challenge from former world champions Pang/Tong of China, who struggled a lot in previous competitions but who always mesmerize with their astonishing lyrical style, and from Bazarova/Larionov, out of European Championships due to injury. The second Russian team won the bronze at Grand Prix final and they have been proving great consistency this season.
PODIUM PICKS
Gold: Savchenko/Szolkowy (GER)
Silver: Volosozhar/Trankov (RUS)
Bronze: Duhamel/Radford (CAN)
Season best scores: short program
Video preview
GO CANADA ! Duhamel & Radford are going to do it BIG in front of the hometown crowd ! Podium finish FOR SURE !
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