Fadeev Leads a Sweep by the Soviet Men in European Figure Skating Championships

Throwing caution to the wind, Alexander Fadeev led the Soviet Union to a sweep of the men’s medals Thursday at the European figure skating championships.

After the compulsory figures and short program, Fadeev needed only a second place in the free skating to win the title. However, he used every jump in his repertory to relegate teammates Vladimir Kotin and Viktor Petrenko to silver and bronze medals, respectively. In all, Fadeev executed seven triple jumps with an artistry that earned him three top marks of 6 and 11 marks of 5.9.

Kira Ivanova of the Soviet Union was overall winner of the women’s compulsories, followed by Claudia Leistner of West Germany and another Soviet, Anna Kondrashova, as defending champion Katarina Witt of East Germany slipped on her first figure and placed fourth.

The pairs gold went to Soviet skaters Larisa Selezneva and Oleg Makarov, with another Soviet couple, Yelena Valova and Oleg Vasilyev, former world champions, winning the silver. East German skaters Katrin Kanitz and Tobias Schroeter won the bronze.