“If the European Figure Skating Championships were held with Russians, the average level would be higher” – Lakernik

Alexander Lakernik, honorary vice-president of the International Figure Skating Union (ISU), told that the average level of the European Figure Skating Championship would be higher if Russians participated.

The 2024 European Championships take place in Kaunas (Lithuania). Italian figure skaters Lucrezia Beccari and Matteo Guarise won gold in pairs skating. Medals in other disciplines will be awarded on Friday and Saturday.

— I looked at couples, at girls. There is a lot of competition, the level is equal, but not the highest. There are quite a few pairs at the European Championships, they are close to each other, and it’s good that there are a lot of them, but I would like more.

— If the Russians had participated, would the European Championship have been different? Would foreigners be attracted to ours?

— Yes, the tournament would have been a little different. Foreigners would follow us, the average level would be higher. But we are not leaders everywhere, somewhere it would be interesting for us to watch others, in the same men’s individual skating.

—Who was the most pleasant to watch?

— In the short program, I liked the duo Anastasia Metelkina/Luka Berulava, who competed for Georgia. But they didn’t perform very well in the free program,” Lakernik told .

Russian figure skaters have been suspended from participating in competitions held under the auspices of the International Skating Union (ISU) due to the situation in Ukraine.