POSTED: Monday November 29th 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy (GER) claim the gold

Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy of Germany claimed the gold medal in
the Pairs event Saturday at the Trophée Bompard in Paris. Vera
Bazarova/Yuri Larionov of Russia earned the silver and Maylin Hausch/
Daniel Wende of Germany took the bronze.

Savchenko/Szolkowy put out an entertaining performance to "The Pink
Panther" that featured a triple toe-triple toe sequence, a throw
triple flip, difficult lifts and a throw triple Salchow in the last
seconds of the program. The Olympic bronze medalists posted a new
seasons best of 131.23 points and racked up a total of 197.88 points.
"Today's performance was much better than last year (here in Paris).
The audience liked the program and the new direction we've taken",
Szolkowy said. "I'm never totally satisfied as there is no limit for
perfection, but I'm pleased for today", Savchenko added.

Skating to "The Man in the Iron Mask", Bazarova/Larionov produced a
big triple twist, a double Axel-double Axel sequence and strong lifts,
but she fell on the throw triple flip. The couple from Perm scored
118.82 points, a seasons best, and took their second silver medal on
the circuit at 183.00 points. "Unfortunately we had a big mistake
today, on an element where we expected it the least", Bazarova
commented. "We are very happy to have made the Grand Prix Final for
the first time in our life. There is not much time to prepare, but we
are very motivated and will work very hard", she continued.

Savchenko/Szolkowy and Bazarova/Larionov qualified for the ISU Grand
Prix of Figure Skating Final.

Hausch/Wende delivered a solid performance to "Prince of Persia" that
included a double twist, throw triple Salchow and flip as well as a
triple toe-double toe combination to earn a seasons best of 103.40
points. They totaled 157.42 points to take the first Grand Prix medal
of their career. "Our program was much better than in Japan (at NHK
Trophy). I woke up after ten seconds into the program! Our elements
went well, we didn't make any big mistakes", Wende told the press.

Mylene Brodeur/John Mattatal (CAN) finished fourth at 157.42 points
and Felicia Zhang/Taylor Toth (USA) came fifth (145.31 points).

Takahiko Kozuka (JPN) strikes gold

Takahiko Kozuka of Japan struck gold in the Men's event at Trophée
Bompard Saturday in Paris. France's Florent Amodio claimed the silver
and the bronze went to Brandon Mroz (USA).

Kozuka's routine to Piano Concerto No. 1 by Franz Liszt included eight
triple jumps and three level four spins. Only his quad toe was wobbly.
The 21-year-old scored 170.43 points, improving his seasons best by
15.32 points and accumulated 248.07 points. "I don't know yet if I
feel it or not (that he won), but I feel right now that I skated well
and that I got a high score. This wasn't the last competition, now I
want to prepare for the Grand Prix Final. It wasn't my best yet. I
still can achieve a better grade of execution on my elements and
achieve a higher score", Kozuka explained.

Amodio entertained the homecrowd with a program set to a medley of pop
music by Michael Jackson, the Black Eyed Peas and others and hit seven
clean triples including a triple Salchow-triple toeloop combination.
The Frenchman scored 153.76 points and remained in second place at
229.38 overall. "I 'm second, and that is extraordinary. I got the
super present of going to the Grand Prix Final and I will get right
back to work to be able to put on a good show in China", the
20-year-old commented.

Mroz reeled off seven triples and a quad toe in his program to "On the
Waterfront" and only stepped out of his second triple Axel to earn
141.85 points. Overall he had 214.31 points. "Today was a good effort
for me. I got my first medal in China and then I get another bronze
here is great. I, too was, nervous, for all of us, we had the Final
buzzing around in our head as we are all contenders. As soon as the
program started, I kind of sank into my knees and I kind of relied on
what I've been training", the 19-year-old offered.

Kozuka and Amodio qualified for the Grand Prix Final. Kevin Reynolds
(CAN) pulled up to fourth at 200.13 points and Chafik Besseghier (FRA)
placed fifth (185.69 points). Brian Joubert (FRA) withdrew before the
Free Skating citing illness (gastroenteritis). He was ranked fifth
after the Short Program.

Kiira Korpi (FIN) wins Ladies title

Finland's Kiira Korpi took the gold in the Ladies event at Trophée
Bompard, the first Grand Prix gold medal for her country. U.S.
Competitors Mirai Nagasu and Alissa Czisny came second and third.

Korpi's program to "Evita" was highlighted by a triple toe-triple toe
combination, three other triples and good spins, but she crashed on a
triple Lutz early into her routine. The 2007 European bronze medalist
was ranked second in the Free Skating at 108.35 points but overall
defended her overnight lead with 169.74 points.

"Of course I'm happy about this result although the program wasn't
perfect today. The beginning was good, but then I had a really bad
fall. I was a bit hurt, but then I pulled myself together and the rest
of the program was ok and I felt like a fighter on the ice. It was
rewarded with the gold medal here", Korpi told the press.

Performing to "Memoirs of a Geisha", Nagasu landed four clean triples
and a double Axel but struggled with her layback spin, usually a
strong element for her. The 17-year-old won the Free Skating with
109.07 points totaled 167.79 points. "I'm so mad right now because of
that layback! It's like my best spin. But overall it was a lot better
than China and I'm glad that I'm able to get my confidence back
because after China it was really down", Nagasu commented.

Czisny's program to "Winter and Spring" by George Winston included
three clean triples and excellent spins, but she made errors on some
jumps. The American scored 104.30 points and moved up to third at
159.80 points overall. "First of all I'm a little disappointed with my
program today. But I think I learned from this competition what I can
work on and how to get ready for the Final. I'm really excited to get
back to the Final again and I hope to put out good two programs
there", Czisny noted. Czisny is the only Lady at Trophée Bompard to
qualify for the Final.

Cynthia Phaneuf (CAN) came fourth (155.11 points) and reigning World
Champion Mao Asada (JPN) placed fifth after some mistakes on her
jumps.

Nathalie Pechalat/Fabian Bourzat (FRA) dance off with the gold

Nathalie Pechalat/Fabian Bourzat of France danced off with the gold
medal at Trophée Bompard, their second gold on the circuit this
season. Russia's Ekaterina Riazanova/Ilia Tkachenko earned the silver,
their first Grand Prix medal, and Madison Chock/Greg Zuerlein took the
bronze.

Pechalat/Bourzat gave an emotional performance of their Charlie
Chaplin program that featured beautiful lifts and intricate footwork.
The lifts and the spin garnered a level four while the twizzles and
the step sequences were a level three. The French couple picked up
96.34 points, a new seasons best, and accumulated 161.82 points.
"There was more pressure on us than in China although there we
competed against our main rivals for the European Championships
(Federica Faiella/Massimo Scali), but we wanted to skate well for our
coaches, our choreographer, costume designer, family, everyone who
supports us and to be able to deliver two good programs and to share
this medal with them is great. This gold medal has more value to us
than the one from China", Pechalat explained.

Riazanova/Tkachenko turned in a strong dance to symphonic Mexican
music as well, earning a level four for the lifts and the twizzles and
a level two for the footwork. The Russian couple achieved a new
seasons best with 85.98 points and had 146.79 overall. "It was a
difficult competition for us. Katia wasn't feeling so well, but we
managed to do a program without mistakes. We are very happy with the
silver medal, It was a really good competition for us", Tkachenko
commented.

Chock/Zuerlein performed an entertaining "Cabaret" program and
produced a level-three step sequence as well as level four twizzles
and lifts. She only fell on a connecting step. The 2009 World Junior
Champions scored 80.93 points which added up to 138.48 points. "We are
very happy to get a bronze medal here. We are in our second year as
seniors. We love our free skate, it's really fun to skate.
Unfortunately I had a little slip up, but other than that I think we
did well", Chock said. Pechalat/Bourzat qualified for the Grand Prix
Final.

Pernelle Carron/Lloyd Jones (FRA) placed fourth at 126.94 points and
Xintong Huang/Xun Zheng (CHN) were fifth with 123.10 points.

For full results, please refer to www.isu.org. The Trophee Eric
Bompard concludes Sunday with the Exhibition Gala.

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Keywords · ISU · Figure Skating Grand Prix · Trophee Bompard · Paris · Aliona Savchenko

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Name: Devra Pitt-getaz
Organization: ISU Communications
Email:
Phone: +41 21 612 66 66
URL: www.isu.org

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