MOSCOW — There’s a gleaming new arena for this year’s Cup of Russia figure skating event. The Russian skaters, though, haven’t been shining much these days.
After a decade of dominating the Grand Prix circuit, Russians have been getting onto the podium infrequently. Last year, Russia failed for the first time to get a top-three placing at the Cup of Russia.
This year’s edition, which begins today at the Megasport arena, looks more promising.
Russian ice dancers Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin, who won silver at the Cup of China, face Natalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat of France, who finished second at Skate America. The rest of the field has been weakened by the withdrawal of Americans Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov because of injury.
“In dance, I’m sure that Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin will be first. As to the other (events), I don’t know,” Russian figure skating federation head Valentin Piseyev said.
That ambivalence comes despite having two promising entries in the pairs event: Maria Mukhortova and Maxim Trankov, the Russian national champions, and Yuko Kawaguchi and Alexander Smirnov, the bronze winners at Skate Canada.
In the singles event, Johnny Weir of the United States could have a bit of home advantage. Weir is one of the top contenders after winning in Beijing this year, and the American trains part-time in Moscow and has developed a large and devoted fan base in Russia.
But the men’s field also includes two-time world champion Stephane Lambiel, who will be looking to overcome a disappointing season start, and Olympic bronze medalist Jeffrey Buttle of Canada.
Of Russia’s three men’s entries — Alexander Uspenski, Andrei Gryazev and Andrei Lutai — only Lutai has a Grand Prix medal to his name, a bronze from the Cup of China two years ago.
Russia’s dearth of stars is also apparent in the women’s event, where Piseyev last week suddenly removed Alexandra Ievleva, whose best result was seventh at Skate America, and Ksenia Doronina.
Their replacements are Katarina Gerboldt and Nina Petushkova. Those two and Arina Martinova face South Korea’s Kim Yu-na, who won the Cup of China and last year’s Grand Prix final, and Japan’s Fumie Suguri. The women’s field also includes American Beatrisa Liang, Canada’s Joannie Rochette and Hungary’s Julia Sebestyen.
