Over the past 55 European Championships, the French men have won four titles, and it’s been nine years since the last one - three of them were won by Brian Joubert (2004, 2007, 2009) and one was by Florent Amodio (2011). With Javier Fernandez’s reign of seven straight titles coming to an end this week, another French man has the opportunity to get himself to the top of the podium.
Europeans predictions
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GOLD Kevin Aymoz FRA - What a season for Aymoz. If last year was the beginnings of a breakthrough, this season has been a full-on busting-through-walls bricks-on-the-ground kind of breakthrough. With every competition, the confidence and the belief that he truly deserves to be among the best in the world have grown. Last year, he was achingly close to making it onto the podium at Europeans. This year, he comes in as one of the favorites. If he can put down what he did at Grand Prix Final, this will be his title to lose. I’m prepared for more big-time emotions from him this week.
SILVER Dmitri Aliev RUS - Let’s all hope that the meltdown he had at Grand Prix Final was a total fluke. After all, even though Aliev has never been known to be the steeliest of competitors, he has been tackling his mental toughness this season fairly well so far. After his sixth-place finish at the Final, he did rebound to win his first Russian title in late December, and there were signs of what he’s been showing all season long. The short program will be key for him here - he needs to make sure he doesn’t pop his quad lutz as he’s done a few times this season already.
BRONZE Michal Brezina CZE - To be honest with you, I don’t know why I am this high on Brezina for this event, but here we are. Maybe it’s because last year, he came in with a super strong season and ended up seventh. And this year, he’s been somewhat building up as the season has gone along - most recently skating very solidly at the Four Nationals competition. Brezina is capable of strong basics and big jumping. If the stamina is there, expect him to be a medal contender.
4. Morisi Kvitelashvili GEO - When I predict him low, he skates well. When I predict him high, he skates poorly. Thus is the relationship I have with Kvitelashvili. Unlike in years past, he seems to have found a good rhythm at all of his competitions this season. He was 10th last year at Europeans and should go much higher than that this year … famous last words.
5. Alexander Samarin RUS - Everything had been looking so strong for Samarin - his first Grand Prix title, and then his first Grand Prix Final appearance. But it was at that Final that he started to unravel. What had been looking more consistent for him was turning into mistakes again. He was lucky to salvage a bronze at Russian Nationals to give him another shot at the World team here. At his best, he’s a title contender here.
6. Deniss Vasiljevs LAT - Vasiljevs is such a terrific skater, and he really can bring a lot to his programs when his jumps are on. But the jumps have always teetered on the edge. Without a reliable quad, he’s got to be that much more consistent for him to figure into the picture here.
7. Matteo Rizzo ITA - Speaking of inconsistency, Rizzo has had that kind of a season. His success over the past couple of years has been backed by the reliability of his triples, and when he started getting a consistent quad under his belt late last season, things were looking up. But this year has been a different story. Sure, he was experimenting with some harder stuff, but he was also making errors on things like triple lutzes, which doesn’t help his case. He’s the reigning bronze medalist here, and he’s got a chance to get back on the podium if he can find that rhythm again.
8. Artur Danielian RUS - The surprise of the Russian Championships a month ago, Danielian has been having a solid season so far. He’s got a lot going for him in his strong basics, his terrific line, and difficult jumps. His short program will tell the tale of how he handles his first huge competition on the senior ranks - this will only be his second senior international ever.
9. Daniel Grassl ITA - Now a two-time Italian champion, Grassl has been straddling the junior and senior ranks like Danielian has. He came in sixth last year at Europeans and has the technical content to make it back up there again. But the risk he puts into his programs can sometimes backfire on him.
10. Adam Siao Him Fa FRA - 12th last year at Europeans, Fa has shown that he’s got the technical ability to hold his own. His silver at French Nationals was what got him here.