Natalia Linichuk - Gennadi Karponosov, 1981 Europeans FD

[muscleboi4use]

Between 1980 and 81 Torvill & Dean made such a dramatic improvement that the judges just couldn't do anything other than place them first at Euro's and World's. Torvill & Dean never put a foot wrong, their edges, technique, choreography and artistry just took Ice Dance to another level. Bestiamanova & Bukin were always dynamic - the only interesting FD from this team was 1978 (but I was 7 years old at the time!)

[stonerr]

Yes, the 1981 European's was the last amateur competition for this couple. The judges decided that that they were no longer the 'it' couple and placed them behind Torvill/Dean and Moiseyeva/Minenkov. As Olympic champions the Russian federation retired them. The exact thing happened to Belousova/Protopopov in 1969: they placed 3rd at the European's having been replaced by Rodnina/Ulanov. I believe Bestemianova/Bukin competed at the 1981 European's as the 3rd string Russian couple.

[premierrules]

Was this their last event? Am sure the USSR sent Bestiamanova & Bukin to Worlds instead of these because they only got bronze here? They must be raking it in as coaches today though.

[libralady1010]

@premierrules Yes this was their final ' amatuer ' competition. Many people thought the Hungarian team should've won the Gold Medal@Lake Placid since Linichuk had an obvious stumble in the FD. Hungarians Regozcy and Sallay won the World title a month later in Dortmund, though. I never thought this team was well matched, either. And you're right. They are raking in the money coaching!

[kirkenes]

@libralady1010 Many people thought that Min&Mo owned that Olympic gold over (way overrated) Regoczy/Sallai and (even more overrated) Linichuk/Karponosov, but it certainly wasn't their year, unfortunately.

[libralady1010]

@kirkenes With all due respect, I thought Linichuk and Karponsov were very over rated. They were 1 point away from the gold in the Olimpics in 1980. Natalia stumbled in a a big way. They didn't desevere it. The Hungarians did.