Belgium above in Lithuania. After the short freestyle at the European Figure Skating Championships, Loena Hendrickx (24) and Nina Pinzarrone (17) are first and second and are on course for two medals. Hendrickx lived up to her role as favorite in the impressive Žalgiris Arena, which unfortunately was not full. With 74.66 points, she was one and a half points below her personal record, but that was enough to take a large lead of five points to Saturday’s free freestyle – where approximately double the points are at stake.
First pursuer is… Nina Pinzarrone. Not really a surprise, because in December the Brussels student was also the only other European who, like Hendrickx, managed to qualify for the prestigious Grand Prix Final. Pinzarrone once again proved in Lithuania that she excels in the big moments. She improved her personal best by no less than three points to 69.70 points. As a result, she was narrowly ahead of the Russian-Georgian title defender Anastasia Gubanova (68.96 points). Pinzarrone will probably need another PR on Saturday to build the silver around her neck. Hendrickx, on the other hand, can already afford to make a few minor mistakes.
Jade Hovine from Hainaut occupied 22nd place after the short program with 51.32 points and thus also qualified for the free freestyle. Belgium is the only country represented by three riders at this European Championship among women. The fact that all three reach the final confirms that Belgium is a figure skating country.
Loena Hendrickx: “I skate for myself”
“I can do even better,” said Loena Hendrickx in the mixed zone immediately after her match. “I’m definitely happy with my score, but something was missing to make it perfect. My legs felt a little shaky. There are days when I slide more beautifully on the ice, today it was a bit choppier. But these are details that I feel myself and that may not really be visible to the outside world.”
© AP
And so Hendrickx is a big step closer to her big dream: a European title. “It’s definitely one of my big dreams. Today I just stood there. Step one went well, hopefully the long freestyle goes well too. But actually I’m not really concerned with medals or how much of an advantage I have. I just want to skate for myself and I absolutely did that today. If I skate well for myself, number one is really achievable. That’s how I want to approach it on Saturday. But first get a lot of sleep, so that I have a good recovery.”
Hendrickx also finds it special that a fellow countrywoman, Nina Pinzarrone, is at number two. “I think Belgium can be really proud. It is amazing. Hopefully there will now be more skating facilities, then maybe one day it will be one, two and three.”
Nina Pinzarrone: “Breaking a personal record again on Saturday”
Of course, Nina Pinzarrone also shone in the catacombs of the Žalgiris Arena. “I am very happy with my performance,” said the 17-year-old from Brussels, who improved her personal record by three points. “I did not expect that. When I got my points, I thought, ‘Oh, that’s really high.’ And close to 70 points, which is a very big goal of mine. Of course I sometimes have a hard time with the pressure, but I try to lock myself in my own bubble as much as possible. I want to show on Saturday that I can also perform a good free freestyle under that pressure.”
That good free freestyle could earn Pinzarrone a historic medal. “I hope to break my personal record again. And then the result depends on what everyone else does. A silver medal is certainly possible. It is secretly also my goal,” she confided.
Nina Pinzarrone — © REUTERS
Hovine: “My goal has been achieved”
Earlier in the day, Jade Hovine also qualified for the final. The nineteen-year-old left nine figure skaters behind her and needed a solid performance (score of 51.32) to secure a place in the free freestyle, for the first time in her young career. “I gave it my all and I really enjoyed it,” said the Hainaut native. “I am very happy. My goal has been achieved.”
Belgium is the only country with three finalists represented in the women’s freestyle.
Loena Hendrickx. — © AFP