Figure Skating: Heartbreak for Zaretskis in Helsinki

The Zaretskis will still have a chance to book their place in a second straight Olympics in future competitions.

By ALLON SINAI, AP
figure skating 298.88 (photo credit: AP)
figure skating 298.88
(photo credit: AP)
Alexandra and Roman Zaretski missed out on the Israeli criteria for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics by 0.01 points on Friday, finishing the European Figure Skating Championships Ice Dancing competition in 11th position. The Israeli duo needed to finish 10th to meet the criteria, but after one of their lifts was marked as illegal and not counted in the score, lost around seven points and four placements in Helsinki. The Zaretskis will still have a chance to book their place in a second straight Olympics in future competitions. Israel's four other participants in the contest didn't fare as well. Maxim Shipov ended the men's competition in 26th place, and Jenna Syken and Ekaterina and Fedor Sokolov were forced to withdraw from the ladies and pairs events respectively. Meanwhile, home favorite Laura Lepisto of Finland gave the enthusiastic crowd quite a show Saturday, winning the title at the European Figure Skating Championships. It's only the second European title for a Finnish skater, and the first by a singles skater. Susanna Rahkamo and Petri Kokko won the ice dance crown in 1995. Carolina Kostner of Italy fell short in her bid to win a third straight European title. She won the free skate, but it wasn't enough to overcome Lepisto's lead after the short program. Lepisto finished with 167.32 points and Kostner was second with 165.42. Susanna Poykio gave Finland a second medal, winning the bronze. Add in Kiira Korpi finishing fifth, and it was by far Finland's best showing at the European Championships.