Montpellier (AP) – Debutant Nikita Starostin has reached the final at the Figure Skating World Championships in Montpellier.
The 19-year-old fell in the short program with the triple axel, but was then able to stand three triple jumps and scored with his pirouettes and steps. He finished 23rd with 73.79 points. “I was very nervous and hesitated with the Axel,” said Starostin. “But after that I pulled myself together, it’s not the end of the world. I had to show my qualities.”
Born in Russia, he lives in Antwerp and starts for Dortmund. “I’ve been running for Germany for several years and I’m very proud to represent this beautiful country,” said Starostin. He does not yet have German citizenship.
In the absence of Olympic Champion Nathan Chen (USA), who had to sit out due to injury, Olympic bronze medalist Shoma Uno of Japan with two quadruple jumps and 109.63 points ahead of his compatriots, Olympic silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama (105.69) and Kazuki Tomono (101.12) in the lead.
The performance of the Ukrainian Ivan Schmuratko, who ran to “Une Vie d’Amour” in a training outfit with a yellow and blue heart-shaped pin, was emotional. “Today I ran my program with all the people of Ukraine by my side,” he said. Schmuratko finished just ahead of Starostin in 22nd place.