Germany’s Minerva Fabienne Hase and Russia’s Nikita Volodin won figure skating gold for Germany in the pairs short program at the Grand Prix final on Thursday in Beijing.
The couple, who placed first at the Finnish Grand Prix and NHK Trophy this season, scored 72.56 points in their first Grand Prix final after a technically difficult program performed to the music of Rihanna’s “Stay” and Mikky Ekko.
Hase and Volodin, representing Germany, edged out Canadian rivals Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps, who finished with 71.22 points. Deschamps and Stellato-Dudek, who at 40 was the oldest athlete of the day, entered the competition at the top of the standings after victories at Skate Canada and the Cup of China.
Italian duo Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii took third place with 70.3 points.
The couples are scheduled to compete in the longer freestyle event on Friday, which will determine their final Grand Prix ranking.
The Grand Prix final continued on Thursday with the men’s short program.
Ranking at the end of the short pairs program:
1. Minerva Fabienne HASE/Nikita VOLODIN (Germany) 72.56 points
2. Deanna STELLATO-DUDEK/Maxime DESCHAMPS (Canada) 71.22
3. Sara CONTI/Niccolo MACII (Italy) 70.30
4. Maria PAVLOVA/Alexei SVIATCHENKO (Hungary) 65.51
5. Rebecca GHILARDI/Filippo AMBROSINI (Italy) 61.91
6. Lia PEREIRA/Trennt MICHAUD (Canada) 61.78
