Figure skaters Zhdanova and Babaev-Smirnov named a dance duet that serves as their guide

Skaters Varvara Zhdanova And Timur Babaev-Smirnov who practice ice dancing, told that they admire the duo Alexander Stepanova / Ivan Bukin.

Last season marked the debut of the Zhdanov/Babaev-Smirnov duo. The skaters took eighth place at the Russian Championship and seventh at the Spartakiad of the Strongest. Stepanova and Bukin are three-time Russian champions, two-time European Championship silver medalists and junior world champions. Last season, the duo won the national championship, two stages of the Grand Prix and the Spartakiad of the Strongest.

— If you are the leader of the group, which couple on the team do you admire?

Timur: This is probably obvious, but we like the first pair of our team – Sasha Stepanova and Vanya Bukin. They have been a couple for quite a long time, it shows in their skating. The guys do every move in unison. Their robustness catches the eye and sets them apart from others.

Varvara: Sasha and Vanya feel very good. Experience says so. Of course we admire them. They are high-level athletes.