European figure skating championships in Finland: Bronze for Berlin duo Hocke/Kunkel in pair skating

The Berlin pair skaters Annika Hocke and Robert Kunkel won the bronze medal at the European Figure Skating Championships in Espoo, Finland. Victory went to the Italians Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii, their compatriots Rebecca Ghilardi and Filippo Ambrosini took second place.

Annika Hocke and Robert Kunkel were still allowed to celebrate after a shaking freestyle: The German pair skating champions won the bronze medal at the European Championships in Espoo, Finland on Thursday evening (January 26th, 2023).

First German EM medal after six years

After the short program there was still more to come, but the Berliners training in Bergamo were not strong enough to claim second place after the short program. Hocke had to support the triple throw Rittberger with his hand, the planned triple toe loop only succeeded twice. After all: It was the first German EM medal in six years, the duo went to the award ceremony visibly relieved.

Jefimowa/Blommaert with a strong EM debut

Alissa Jefimowa from Oberstdorf and Ruben Blommaert from Berlin remained without a medal. The duo was unable to maintain third place after the short program in the freestyle, falling back to fourth place, but it was a successful joint European Championship debut.

Having recovered from the flu that prevented him from starting at the German championships in Oberstdorf, the veteran Blommaert (30) in particular gave a confident performance in the short program for the Moonlight Sonata. Efimova, who was seven years younger, had to support the landing of the triple toe loop with her hand.

Because of the war of aggression in Ukraine, the three Russian couples who won all the medals in last year’s European title fights were not allowed to start.