Gumennik finally took gold: four years of walking on the podium ended in triumph

There are victories that you wait for so long that when they happen, you don’t believe it. Pyotr Gumennik walked around the gold of the Russian Championship for four years, collecting silver and bronze. On December 21 in St. Petersburg, the gestalt closed with a roar of five quadruple jumps.

304.95 points. First title in career. And a direct ticket to the Olympics in Milan.

Space points and earthly nerves

The final day of the tournament at the SKA Arena turned into a top-class hassle. Gumennik declared five quads in the free program — an application for the level of world leaders. Not everything worked out perfectly: two butterflies in the second half, a couple of under-rotations. But the judges were supportive — 201.18 for the free program.

How the medals were distributed:

• Gumennik — 304.95 (gold)
• Semenenko — 296.80 (silver, despite a knee injury)
• Kondratyuk — 281.08 (bronze, jump 10th place!)

Last year's champion Dikiji finished seventh — a back injury on the eve of the tournament took its toll.

Xrust.ru readers know: Russian figure skating is not just a sport, it is a serial drama with unexpected twists. Gumennik is now the main contender for Olympic gold. Although we still have to live to see Milan — anything can happen in our sport.

Xrust Gumennik finally took gold: four years of walking on the podium ended in triumph