Unforgettable Showdown at the Panin-Kolomenkin Memorial
The Panin-Kolomenkin Memorial held in St. Petersburg has become a battleground for two of the strongest pairs in figure skating: Alexandra Boikova and Dmitry Kozlovsky, the 2020 European Champions, and Anastasia Mishina and Alexander Galliamov, the 2021 World Champions. This tournament has marked a significant chapter in their ongoing rivalry, showcasing the intensity and skill each pair brings to the ice.
The rivalry has deep roots, as Mishina and Galliamov transitioned from Lyudmila Velikova's coaching to Tamara Moskvina's team, where they quickly made a name for themselves. Boikova and Kozlovsky, despite their previous successes, found themselves challenged by the rapid rise of the younger pair. The competition intensified when both pairs faced off at the Russian Championship in 2021, where Boikova and Kozlovsky emerged victorious, albeit with a sense of unfinished business lingering in the air.
The post-Olympic season saw Mishina and Galliamov take a step back to recover and refocus, while Boikova and Kozlovsky sought to revamp their training under new coaching. Eteri Tutberidze, known for her competitive edge, has become a pivotal figure in Boikova and Kozlovsky's journey, pushing them to excel and adapt their techniques for greater success.
At the recent Panin-Kolomenkin Memorial, Boikova and Kozlovsky initially took the lead after the short program, but ultimately lost to Mishina and Galliamov by a narrow margin. The competition was fierce, with both pairs making key errors that contributed to the outcome. The stakes were high, and the pressure palpable as both duets aimed to establish their dominance in the season ahead. Despite the loss, the rivalry promises to heat up as they prepare for upcoming competitions in Kazan and Krasnoyarsk, where they will once again face off in a bid for supremacy.
