Russians win European pairs gold

Russians Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov won the European Pairs figure skating title for the second time in Stockholm on Sunday.
The 2010 winners totalled 207.67 points to lead another Russian clean sweep of the podium with Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov second on 201.11 points and Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov third with 183.02 points.
The win meant that Russia dominated the competition winning two golds, three silvers and four bronzes for a total of nine medals out of 12.
Kavaguti and Smirnov also struck a blow for the over-30s in a sport widely associated with teenagers.
"We are really happy with how we skated today. At last we did what we have to do and what we can do," said Kavaguti whose triumph came after a 2014 season ruined by injury.
"We did our best. The whole performance in itself was the highlight. Originally I didn't like the music (for the programme). It's not for me.
"But the choreographer did such a great program that I started feeling the music and now I think it's me. I don't need to put on some kind of mask to skate and to dance."
Source: AFP