CHANGING OF THE GUARD
With only the top six finishers qualifying directly for the national team and receiving funding, the 2019 Russian Championships were a battle on many levels.
The fields were deep and nerves sometimes failed — many say this competition is the hardest of the season.
Figure skating in Russia went into decline following the collapse of the Soviet Union, but it is now one of the most popular sports in the country with skaters and coaches often the center of media attention.
And the ladies discipline, which once lay in the shadows, is now at the forefront. It is not only the most successful discipline in Russia but also the most popular.
The future was on display in Saransk with a trio of talented juniors overtaking the top senior ladies to claim all three steps of the podium.
Of the ladies who were age-eligible for a place on the European Championships team, Stanislava Konstantinova, 18, ranked
