Carolina Kostner has really come into her own this season, adding the triple + triple to her program and showing off a renewed confidence in her programs. Her whole packaging is really showcasing her in the best light. The only two people that have beat her this season are Alissa Czisny and Elizaveta Tuktamisheva, neither of which will be at this event. She won her first Grand Prix title in December and is on par to win her fourth European title.
Alena Leonova finished just behind Kostner at Worlds. While her season started slow, her results improved throughout the Grand Prix and she captured the bronze medal at the Grand Prix Final. She also has triple + triple combinations and while her programs are still unique, she's toned it down slightly and her free skate especially is much more reserved and allows her technique to shine through.
Kiira Korpi is one of the most elegant and refined skaters competing today. She looks like a movie star out on the ice and has wonderful lines and carriage. While she has triple + triple combinations her jumps are not always the most consistent. While she didn't win a medal on the Grand Prix this season, she is entering this event as the reigning bronze medalist.
Speaking of movie stars, Viktoria Helgesson channels classic Hollywood in her free skate and truly portrays the character of her program to a tee. She won the bronze medal at Skate America but her technical content is not as difficult as some of the other skaters, so she'll have to rely on a clean skate and others to make mistakes if she wants to make the podium.
Elene Gedevanishvili has shown increased confidence and consistency in her skating this year. She is capable of great skates and competing with the best but can often fall apart under pressure. If she comes in without any pressure, she could win her second European medal at this event.
My podium predictions:
Gold: Carolina Kostner
Silver: Alena Leonova
Bronze: Kiira Korpi
Bios of the competitors:
Kerstin Frank, AUT: Her personal best is 105.73. She is 23 years old.
Ksenia Bakusheva, BLR: She finished 17th at JGP Poland. Her personal best is 94.88. She is 16 years old.
Isabelle Pieman, BEL (Direct Entry): Her personal best is 96.64. She is 28 years old.
Kaat van Daele, BEL: Her personal best is 85.16. She is 22 years old.
Daniela Stoeva, BUL: She finished 28th in the preliminary round at World Juniors. Her personal best is 78.90. She is 18 years old.
Mirna Libric, CRO: She finished 19th in the preliminary round at Europeans. His personal best is 100.62. He is 19 years old.
Eliska Brezinova, CZE: She placed 17th at JGP Austria. Her personal best is 101.70. She is 15 years old.
Karina Johnson, DEN (Direct Entry): She finished 26th at Worlds and 17th at Europeans. Her personal best is 121.63. She is 20 years old.
Elena Glebova, EST (Direct Entry): She finished 22nd at Worlds. Her personal best is 148.71. She is 22 years old.
Kiira Korpi, FIN (Direct Entry): She finished 9th at Worlds and is the reigning European Bronze Medalist. She placed 6th at NHK Trophy and 5th at Rostelecom Cup. She is the 2007 European Bronze Medalist. Her personal best is 169.74. She is 23 years old.
Juulia Turkkila, FIN (Direct Entry): She finished 20th at Worlds, 15th at Europeans and 16th at Junior Worlds. She placed 13th at JGP Poland and JGP Estonia. Her personal best is 136.68. She is 17 years old.
Mae Berenice Meite, FRA (Direct Entry): She placed 14th at Worlds and 9th at Europeans. She finished 7th at NHK Trophy and 6th at Trophee Eric Bompard. Her personal best is 150.44. She is 17 years old.
Yretha Silete, FRA: She finished 11th at Junior Worlds. She placed 8th at Trophee Eric Bompard. Her personal best is 135.90. She is 17 years old.
Elene Gedevanishvilli, GEO (Direct Entry): She finished 10th at Worlds and 8th at Europeans. She placed 7th at Skate America and 5th at NHK Trophy. She is the 2010 European Bronze Medalist. Her personal best is 164.54. She is 22 years old.
Nathalie Weinzierl, GER (Direct Entry): Her personal best is 77.33. She is 17 years old.
Jenna McCorkell, GBR (Direct Entry): She finished 24th at Worlds and 14th at Europeans. Her personal best is 150.90. She is 25 years old.
Georgia Glastris, GRE: She finished 24th in the preliminary round at Worlds and 17th in the preliminary round at Europeans. Her personal best is 97.32. She is 19 years old.
Chelsea Rose Chiappa, HUN (Direct Entry): She finished 19th in the preliminary round at Junior Worlds. Her personal best is 95.89. She is 19 years old.
Clara Peters, IRL: She finished 21st in the preliminary round at Worlds and 27th at Europeans. Her personal best is 71.15. She is 20 years old.
Carolina Kostner, ITA: She is the reigning World Bronze Medalist and European Silver Medalist. She won silver at Skate America, gold at Cup of China and silver at Trophee Eric Bompard to qualify for the Grand Prix Final where she won gold. She is the 2008 World Silver Medalist; 2005 World Bronze Medalist; 2007, 2008 and 2010 European Champion; 2009 European Silver Medalist; 2006 European Bronze Medalist; and 2003 World Junior Bronze Medalist. Her personal best is 187.48. She is 24 years old.
Valentina Marchei, ITA (Direct Entry): She finished 10th at Europeans. She placed 9th at Skate America and Cup of China. Her personal best is 153.71. She is 25 years old.
Francesca Rio, ITA: Her personal best is 122.70. She is 21 years old.
Alina Fjodorova, LAT: She finished 28th at World Juniors. She placed 13th at JGP Latvia and 9th at JGP Poland. Her personal best is 116.63. She is 16 years old.
Rimgaile Meskaite, LTU: She finished 14th in the preliminary round at Junior Worlds. She finished 21st at JGP Latvia. Her personal best is 97.27. She is 16 years old.
Fleur Maxwell, LUX: She placed 22nd at Europeans. Her personal best is 123.28. She is 23 years old.
Manouk Gijsman, NED: Her personal best is 113.18. She is 19 years old.
Camilla Gjersem, NOR: She placed 20th at JGP Estonia. Her personal best is 95.35. She is 18 years old.
Sabina Mariuta, ROU: She finished 14th in the preliminary round at Worlds and 18th in the preliminary round at Europeans. Her personal best is 80.85. She is 16 years old.
Polina Korobeynikova, RUS: She placed 4th at JGP Australia and won silver at JGP Romania to qualify for the Junior Grand Prix Final where she won bronze. Her personal best is 151.18. She is 15 years old.
Alena Leonova, RUS (Direct Entry): She finished 4th at Worlds and 5th at Europeans. She placed 4th at Skate Canada, won bronze at NHK Trophy and silver at Rostelecom Cup to qualify for the Grand Prix Final where she won bronze. She is the 2009 Junior World Champion. Her personal best is 183.92. She is 21 years old.
Ksenia Makarova, RUS (Direct Entry): She placed 7th at Worlds and 4th at Europeans. She placed 5th at Skate America and 7th at Cup of China. Her personal best is 171.91. She is 19 years old.
Marina Seeh, SRB: She finished 25th in the preliminary round at Worlds and 15th in the preliminary round at Europeans. She is 25 years old.
Monika Simancikova, SVK: She finished 18th at World Juniors. She placed 10th at JGP Poland and 9th at JGP Estonia. Her personal best is 125.66. She is 16 years old.
Patricia Glescic, SLO: She finished 20th at World Juniors. Her personal best is 125.46. She is 17 years old.
Sonia Lafuente, ESP (Direct Entry): She finished 25th at Worlds and 12th at Europeans. She placed 7th at Trophee Eric Bompard. Her personal best is 143.60. She is 19 years old.
Joshi Helgesson, SWE: She finished 15th at Worlds. She placed 10th at Skate America. Her personal best is 149.08. She is 18 years old.
Viktoria Helgesson, SWE (Direct Entry): She finished 17th at Worlds and 6th at Europeans. She won bronze at Skate America and placed 5th at Trophee Eric Bompard. Her personal best is 161.79. She is 23 years old.
Romy Buhler, SUI (Direct Entry): She placed 16th at Europeans and 14th at Junior Worlds. She finished 12th at JGP Poland and 17th at JGP Italy. Her personal best is 122.33. She is 17 years old.
Myriam Leuenberger, SUI (Direct Entry): Her personal best is 68.58. She is 25 years old.
Birce Atabey, TUR: She finished 16th in the preliminary round at Worlds and 28th at Europeans. Her personal best is 89.36. She is 19 years old.
Natalia Popova, UKR: She placed 7th at JGP Romania and 11th at JGP Estonia. Her personal best is 119.58. She is 18 years old.
