Germans contemplate withdrawal from Euros
Savchenko recovering from upper thigh injury suffered on fall
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| Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy may decide to sit out the European Championships. (AFP) |
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Elke Tretiz, vice president of the German Skating Federation, told German news agencies today that Savchenko "suffers from the rupture of a muscle fiber" in her upper thigh. She suffered the injury trying a throw triple Axel in practice about a week ago.
The skaters remain at their training site in Chemnitz. In practices on Saturday, Savchenko was unable to land jumps or throws. Their coach, Ingo Steuer, said they are still scheduled to depart for Europeans on Monday.
In addition to Europeans, which they have won four times, Savchenko's injury could affect their participation in a series of "Art on Ice" shows in Switzerland the first week of February.
If Savchenko and Szolkowy are forced to withdraw, they will be the second high-profile pair to do so. Russians Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov withdrew earlier due to Smirnov's appendix surgery.