2026 European Championships Pairs Free Skate

[apgold]

I'm happy for Annika and Robert coming in 4th - they had awful mishaps at Skate America so I'm relieved they had nothing crazy happen here.

As for Miniki, yikes on that final fall. I literally gasped when that happened. I thought they would be in 3rd but I think their PCS saved them.

Good for the Hungarian team on their medal - they've had a glow up this season and I hope their PCS increases.

And happy for the Georgians - they also had weird mishaps at Skate America - his feet during the lifts still scare me, but the rest of the elements are top notch. I think they could be on the podium at the OG, but they have to be perfect to win gold.

 

[16Olympics]

I'm happy for Annika and Robert coming in 4th - they had awful mishaps at Skate America so I'm relieved they had nothing crazy happen here.

As for Miniki, yikes on that final fall. I literally gasped when that happened. I thought they would be in 3rd but I think their PCS saved them.

Good for the Hungarian team on their medal - they've had a glow up this season and I hope their PCS increases.

And happy for the Georgians - they also had weird mishaps at Skate America - his feet during the lifts still scare me, but the rest of the elements are top notch. I think they could be on the podium at the OG, but they have to be perfect to win gold.

I think the Georgian team will be formidable in the Team Event.

 

[amanda b]

Georgians win. I find them technically sound but mechanical in their performance. But they deserved first here.
Too bad for Hase and Volodyn. That fall at the end was bizarre. It seems like Volodyn just let go at the end and Hase ends up with a nasty hip bruise (hopefully that's all it is). I am drawn to Minerva and her classical style.
Yay for the Hungarians finally getting some recognition.
I'm still hoping that the Japanese and possibly the Germans (Hase/Volodyn) grab the Olympic gold.

I thought I could see a big mark on Minerva's hip before the fall at the end.

 

[withwings]

Anastasia wants Olympic Gold Medal (eventually), no less.

No, she was not saying eventually. She was saying clear and direct that she is not going for less than gold for this, upcoming Olympics. IMO... it sounded little bit too disrespectful and arrogant towards other pair teams. Translator did her best and softened what is said, adding in English translation "until" gold medal. There was no this "until" or eventually.
One can say that it is a great job of translator. Perhaps it is or, perhaps, it is not.

 

[Skating91]

No, she was not saying eventually. She was saying clear and direct that she is not going for less than gold for this, upcoming Olympics. IMO... it sounded little bit too disrespectful and arrogant towards other pair teams. Translator did her best and softened what is said, adding in English translation "until" gold medal. There was no this "until" or eventually.
One can say that it is a great job of translator. Perhaps it is or, perhaps, it is not.

Please. Her goal is to win gold. It's not arrogant or disrespectful it is a realistic goal for a European champion. She's not going around calling herself the Twist Goddess or Throw Goddess, or putting her own voice in her music.

 

[Skating91]

M/B simply too good finally starting to put it all together. They'll be dangerous at the Olympics. A great day for Georgian sport . Well done!

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

I thought I could see a big mark on Minerva's hip before the fall at the end.

A friend who was there told me Minerva also had a cut, from the throw fall I guess

 

[ajingmarg]

A pairs medal after 69 years! Last time that happened, we wanted the Russian out

The Hungarians are Russians

 

[Reah]

A German newspaper asks: ‘What does home advantage mean in Italian?’

[‘vantaggio casalingo’...] The question is rather, what does home advantage mean in Italian with massive Japanese influence in terms of corrupt ISU judges, as was clearly evident several times during the season: in order to fulfil German medal dreams, H/V would have to deliver a ‘performance of the century’ from the outset in order to win.

However, their ‘miserable’ performance in Sheffield puzzles me and marks an unexpected low point in their career at the worst possible time: both are out of control, at least partially, appear weakened in terms of strength, and Minerva repeatedly uses the familiar phrase ‘we were both very excited’. It's not as if they were the only ones in this regard, given the championships overall less than exhilarating level of performance (I had to spontaneously applaud with a personal ‘standing ovation’ in front of my computer screen for the Hungarian pair). And it's not as if H/V are incapable of overcoming these problems, rising above themselves and delivering their best performances, as seen in the two world-class free dances at the 2025 World Championships and Grand Prix Final.

The Gazette goes on to quote Minerva as saying that she has ‘a slight cold’, but this reassurance is not the first time we have heard it this season, even though they have successfully overcome far greater adversities in the past (a series of jet lags, bad food and even colds). It seems to me that ‘the magic of the beginning’ does not last forever, and a core essence emerges which, in my opinion, can be explained primarily by considerable stage fright, with the external pressure of being the only hope for a medal weighing too heavily on her (as well as things such as the public praise from the great Katharina Witt).

Incidentally, there was one judge from Georgia and none from Germany. Fortunately, otherwise it wouldn't have been enough for silver...

 

[sissy7]

The Hungarians are Russians

Belive me, I know the amount of snide remarks in the media...

 

[withwings]

To say the truth is not 'snide remarks'. Truth is truth, like the sun- there is only one sun. So, is not it rather rather snide interpretation of the remarks?
If your eyes and mind would be more open, you would have noticed, that posters here, on this forums, love P/S ( Hungarians) skating and are impressed by their progress.

 

[sissy7]

To say the truth is not 'snide remarks'. Truth is truth, like the sun- there is only one sun. So, is not it rather rather snide interpretation of the remarks?
If your eyes and mind would be more open, you would have noticed, that posters here, on this forums, love P/S ( Hungarians) skating and are impressed by their progress.

Sorry if I wasn't clear, I am not disputing the truth.
I am Hungarian
I am saying that there is a lot of murmer in Hungarian media and public life about the fact that they are not native Hungarians. I aam happy that they got the medal, really deserved it, and just shared that the last pairs Euros medal for Hungary, the country, was a long time ago

 

[Reah]

If your eyes and mind would be more open, you would have noticed, that posters here, on this forums, love P/S ( Hungarians) skating and are impressed by their progress.

Oh, absolutely, and last but not least, or first of all, their body lines: I hereby praise “their” beautiful legs!

P/S and H/V are coached by the same head coach, and the bald guy is also involved in the choreography. How do they deal with that? People always say they're professionals, no problem. Family and all that. Really? I can hardly imagine that...!?

 

[slider11]

Hoping that the Hase and Volodyn partnership is solid. I was disappointed to see Nikita not be more concerned for Minerva's welfare after the last lift drop. Nikita seems very much into his own world; would like to see more empathy towards his partner. Guess that's not changing any time soon. Irrelevant for some but I do appreciate the emotional give and take of a strong partnership.

 

[withwings]

Hoping that the Hase and Volodyn partnership is solid. I was disappointed to see Nikita not be more concerned for Minerva's welfare after the last lift drop. Nikita seems very much into his own world; would like to see more empathy towards his partner. Guess that's not changing any time soon. Irrelevant for some but I do appreciate the emotional give and take of a strong partnership.

The same here. Agree with everything you said.
Minerva always is so empathetic, compassionate and has an excellent sportsmanship with everyone in general. She is pair's backbone in that regard. When she needed support, encouragement. from Nikita it was not there. On the other hand, we do not know anything.
I do feel sorry for Minerva. That fall might have hurt her more than we know at the moment.

P.s.
Rewatched. Indeed your disappointment is in place. Nikita was bluntly cold and even did not try to help her or acknowledge that it actually was his fault she fell but, as I said, we do not know anything.

 

[Moon322]

The Hungarians are Russians

I think you didn't get the poster's historical reference. The last time (1957) Hungary won a pairs medal at Europeans, the country wanted the Russians (Soviets) out of the country after the 1956 Revolution which occured in Hungary against the Soviets.

 

[withwings]

wrong thread

 

[withwings]

Sorry if I wasn't clear, I am not disputing the truth.
I am Hungarian
I am saying that there is a lot of murmer in Hungarian media and public life about the fact that they are not native Hungarians. I aam happy that they got the medal, really deserved it, and just shared that the last pairs Euros medal for Hungary, the country, was a long time ago

I am not Hungarian either. I am from the small pocket like country in one of the Baltic states. The last occupation by Soviets/Russians still brings pains almost in everyone's soul.

 

[Tutto]

The same here. Agree with everything you said.
Minerva always is so empathetic, compassionate and has an excellent sportsmanship with everyone in general. She is pair's backbone in that regard. When she needed support, encouragement. from Nikita it was not there. On the other hand, we do not know anything.
I do feel sorry for Minerva. That fall might have hurt her more than we know at the moment.

P.s.
Rewatched. Indeed your disappointment is in place. Nikita was bluntly cold and even did not try to help her or acknowledge that it actually was his fault she fell but, as I said, we do not know anything.

As you say we do not know anything - it could be as you say (and I got the same impression!) or he simply was stunned/shocked by his own, very costly, mistake to the extent of appearing cold and not caring, whereas in reality it was not a case at all. Again, we know nothing. But it seems to me that a 'honeymoon' phase of their partnership is over. They got on very well with each other when thing were going in upward trajectory, now when they are being tested by extra pressure of Olympic season, so far neither of them seem to withstand that pressure well.
In the past it seems to me that the calm and even stoic personality of Nikita was balancing more emotional and prone to nerves one of Minerva, sadly Nikita started making mistakes too and things began to fall apart. The judges so far have been holding them up but it will not go on indefinitely. I am sad and worried they are my second favourite pair (Alisa/Misha being No1 in my heart) and I hope they will find the way to overcome the current self confidence crisis.