Rodnina Ulanow winning the 1971 Worlds. At the microphone: the 1949 European Champion Eva Pawlik. This is the translation of her commentary:
"The Russian pair Smirnova/Suraikin, who took the silver at the Europeans, is leading after the short program before the titleholders Rodnina/Ulanow. That is a totally correct decision of the judges because Rodnina/Ulanow´s short program yesterday was by no means wonderful. The first two elements were presented in an outstanding manner but from the third element on the faultlessness was gone. When doing the double toe-loop Ulanow lacked half a rotation, so he landed forward on the inside egde. He did a three turn that is usually done after such a mistake. They tripped themselves up. I must say that the whole performance was really not perfect at all. Although Rodnina/Ulanow had to skate as the first couple, they got rather high marks. However, there were some 5.6 among these marks. Smirnova/Suraikin presented their short program without any mistakes. They got the mark 5.8 by almost every judge and twice the mark 5.7. So Smirnova/Suraikin are unanimously in the first place after the short program. But now on the ice the titleholders Irina Rodnina and Alexej Ulanow. Before the competition they were extremely nervous. They did not even talk to one another. You can imagine their mental situation. They know exactly that every slight mistake could lead to the loss of their World title - provided that Smirnova/Suraikin will not make mistakes. It is very difficult to skate in that situation. I want to introduce them to you once more: They are 21 and 23 yo, they live in Moskow, they are multiple European and World Champions and they are coached by Stanislaw Shuck. Rodnina/Ulanow have to get marks on the average two tenths higher than Smirnova/Suraikin to win the gold. Oh dear, that was a double axel, Irina did not revolve it well. However, she had the strength and skill to land it. It is remarkable that they do not skate so perfectly this year as in the last years. Irina is no longer so unconcerned in her way to present herself as she was in the years before. That was one strength she always had beside the strength of an outstanding technique. Her outstanding technique certainly has to do with the fact that she originally was a single skater, just as her partner. As a matter of fact, she was a very good single skater. That was a great advantage of this pair as compared with their competitors. However, this year some mistakes are beginning to slip in as Irina´s airiness seems to have gone. Axel Paulsen, in both directions, one time taking off from the left, one time from the right leg (Pawlik often pointed out this ability as she herself was one of the few skaters who had been able to present the axel in both directions, in single skating and in the ice shows also in pair skating, together with her husband - this is some background information -- it goes without saying that Pawlik never spoke about her own career in her commentary). You simply have to say: Rodnina and Ulanow are able to pull themselves together. They did concentrate on their program. Their coach Shuck has encouraged them to show the audience and the judges that they are excellent skaters and that it is senseless to be at odds with one another because of mistakes in the short program. The free program was very good (except one double axel), perhaps not so spirited as the last year´s performance. 5.9, 5.9, 5.8. 5.9, 5.8, 5.8, 5.9, 5.9, 6.0 --- 6.0 naturally is the mark given by Mrs. Nestengina from the Soviet Union. I think it is necessary to have participated in international competitons by yourself to be aware of what efforts are necessary to perform at such a high level under these mental circumstances. In the slow motion: Axel - loop (Rittberger) - Euler - double salchow. You can see their coach Stanislaw Shuck and on the left Dick Button, who again does interviews for the US Broadcasting Corporation. For the artistic impression: 5.8, 5.9, 5.9, 5.8, 5.9, 5.8, 5.8, 5.9, 5.9. So the marks for the technical merit are higher than those for the artistic impression. I agree with that. Both marks are very high. It was indeed a good performance of the titleholders Rodnina/Ulanow."
Loading...
alexei ulanov was very handsome.
quafer 1 year ago
Thank You very much for posting!
b2367 2 years ago
This is great, this is actually the first chance I have had to see Irinia Rodnina. The first half of the program was so fast! I loved all of the moves that aren't performed now like when Ulanov picked her up in the pairs spin. I didn't see a throw jump, did they perform them back in the 70s?
myparalysis 2 years ago
What a fantastic document this is! The video; and your mother's commentary, add so much to our understanding and appreciation of this competition - and the circumstances surrounding it,
Thank you, as always, for sharing/
skatesindreams 2 years ago
Brilliant post. I have the LP but not the kiss & cry. This was the only competition after 1969 in which Rodnina was placed 2nd in any phase of the competition. Wonderful stuff!!!!! Love the translation of your Mother's commentary - very informative.
floskate 2 years ago