Figure Skater Makarova shocked by worlds failure

Russian figure skater Ksenia Makarova was left shocked after a poor free skate ended her chances of a medal at the world championships in Nice, she told RIA Novosti on Sunday. Makarova was one of Russia’s medal hopes but finished ninth in the women’s individual event with 149.48 points after falling twice in the free skate, once on a triple lutz and once on a triple salchow. Compatriot Alena Leonova won silver with a score of 184.28, finishing behind Italy’s Carolina Kostner, who won her first world title with 189.94 points, with Japan’s Akiko Suzuki third on 180.68. “I don’t know what happened to me in the free skate. It just doesn’t seem to be my season,” she said. Makarova burst onto the world scene with wins at the Russian championships and the Coupe de Nice in the 2009-10 season, but has not finished higher than fourth at any event this season. Sixteen-year-old rival Polina Shelepen challenged Makarova for a place in Nice after impressing at the junior world championships, but Makarova pulled through after the Russian Figure Skating Federation organized a private trial in St. Petersburg earlier this month. Makarova, 19, hopes to return to form despite the setback, she said. “My coach said to me: ‘You have everything ahead of you, because you are very young.’ I’m of the exact same opinion.” Makarova retained her place as Russia’s second-best female skater in the most recent world rankings published Saturday, at No. 12. Leonova is the country’s No. 1, at third place in the world rankings.