Figure skating Jenni Saarinen’s skating lacked the best blade on the European Championship ice: “I could have had more rage in the program”

Jenni Saarinen was not at its best in its free program at the European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn.

The performance of the Tampere resident on Saturday night remained a bit sluggish and cautious, although there were also many good elements in the choreography.

At the beginning of the program, he crashed his triple jump as he tried to correct his previous jump.

Saarinen received 101.39 points for his free program. Combined with the short program, the total score was 160.32. They are enough for at least the 18th farm. After the short program, he was 16th.

“Annoying performance. I expected better from myself after the workouts went well, ”Saarinen said.

Two years ago, Saarinen was 33rd in the European Championships and could not skate at all in the free program at that time.

Valtter Virtanen was 19th in the men’s race on Friday.

Saarinen fell short of his international record by more than 20 points. In 2019, he skated 181.20 points in the Finlandia Trophy in Espoo.

In December, Saarinen contracted norovirus, which may have contributed to the race mood on EM ice.

“After the illness, the week was heavy, although it didn’t affect the free program. In the short program, I was really excited, but today I was calm and relaxed. I could have had more rage in the program, ”Saarinen said.

Read more: Jenni Saarinen, who has recovered from Norovirus, will go to the European Championships as a lonely Olympic candidate

In autumn Saarinen got a place in Finland for the Beijing Olympics, where he will also be elected.

“The European Championships were at the top this week. Let’s go to the race one at a time and then see what happens. Of course, the Olympic venue rotates somewhat, ”Saarinen said.

Formerly the strongest challenger Emmi Peltonen missed out of the European Championships due to an ankle injury and did not compete in the Olympic venue.

The Women’s European Championships end late Saturday night. There were 24 skaters in the final. After the short program in Russia Kamila Valieva led the race with an overwhelming point difference.