Mishkutenok & Dmitriev (RUS) - 1994 Goodwill Games, Figure Skating, Pairs' Technical Program

[intldawn]

The same words come up when describing these two: powerful, classic, dynamic, innovative. They really have a style all their own which is so typically Soviet/Russian but very distinctive and unique to them. I just love them. It's a testament to Tamara Moskvina that she could create these two and then have Berezhnaya and Sikharudlize a few years later, whose style is more fluid, romantic and lyrical, but artistic all the same.

[libralady1010]

@intldawn Could not have said it better myself. I just love them and miss them so much as a pair. Kazakova was good but these two were more one another's equals. Always had the feeling with Kazakova and Dmitriev, it was more of a sudent/teacher partnership, which in many ways I suppose it was. M&D were truly one of a kind. Unique, powerful, flexible yet elegant all at once.

Thank you for posting this!

[intldawn]

@libralady1010 Yeah, I thought Kazakova was very talented but they didn't have a distinct enough style from M & D. It felt like they tried to make her into too much of a replacement for Natalia, for which there is none. But that's partly because they didn't skate together for that long, whereas M & D grew up together on the ice.

On a separate note, Artur is sooo strong! The height he got Natalia on in that double twist was amazing. Such the quintessential male pairs skater.