Dirty dancing

(Photo: EPA )

Such a statement is not the discovery of America. It has long been known about the judging games in the most subjective of figure skating disciplines, about the notorious “queue for the podium,” about the predictability of results and the division of spheres of influence between leading coaches. But what the television picture conveyed from the next world championship from the sports palace in Nice, France, which made it possible to follow the struggle of duets in the original dance, was frankly outrageous.

In the absence of the Russian world champions Krylova - Ovsyannikov, any of three or four pairs could, in principle, become the new laureate. The Russian "French" Marina Anisina and her partner Gwendal Peizerat were considered the favorites. They are now objectively the strongest, and the “turn” has come; at the last championship, the gap in scores between them and the winners was microscopic. But unexpectedly, it was not these guys who won the original dance, nor the Latvians Drobyazko - Vanagas, nor the Russians Lobachev - Averbukh. The referees placed the Italian couple Barbara Fusar-Poli and Maurizio Margalio (pictured) in first place. A couple, even to the uninitiated eye, are an order of magnitude inferior to the others, primarily in skating technique. Professionals would say that they constantly “stand on two edges,” that is, on both skates, which, in general, is not a crime, but in the highest society of figure skating is considered bad manners. Minimal footwork, but above the belt of passion-muzzle, endless wringing and splashing of hands. Drama, in a word. The signature style of Tatyana Anatolyevna Tarasova, who now trains this couple.

The phenomenon of the famous Russian specialist has been attracting attention for several years now. She no longer had her own students, nurtured from youth level. But Tarasova is flooded with talented athletes from other coaches who have slowed down a step away from the highest step of the podium. Grischuk and Platov, Kulik, Yagudin - she brings all of them to gold. At the same time, the purely athletic superiority of “her” champions is often doubtful, but in these most dubious cases, and in the situation with the Italians more than that, the scales almost always tip towards Tarasova’s charges. It’s hard for me to believe (and these notes are being written a few hours before the decisive battle between the dancers on the ice of Nice) that they will still lose to Anisin-Peyser on home ice. But now I wouldn't be at all surprised if this happens. All that remains is to take off your hat and bow deeply before the grip and penetrating power of Tarasova, who knows by what means forcing the referees to believe in the impossible.

March 31, 2000