For many countries, Olympic assignments have already been announced. But for a few, they are using the European Figure Skating Championships this week as the final showdown between their skaters. And no event is more interesting for that than the men’s event, where Italy will be determining its second and final men’s spot, and Estonia will be determine its sole spot in Milano Cortina. Two-time champion Adam Siao Him Fa chose to skip Europeans to prepare for the Olympics, and this field is wide open for the medals.
Europeans predictions
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GOLD Lukas Britschgi SUI - The defending champion had a phenomenal skate that catapulted him from eighth to gold last year, and he’s been on the European podium twice in the last three years. Defending a title comes with a very different kind of pressure, but he comes in after putting down his best skates of the season at Swiss Nationals. Can he rise to the occasion again at the European Championships?
SILVER Daniel Grassl ITA - Of the men here, Grassl is the one who has had the most positive trajectory this season. But Europeans has not been kind to him the past two seasons, as he’s finished outside the top five both years after qualifying for the Grand Prix Final. Rotations will be of utmost importance here for him, and his jumps can often go in many directions depending on how well he takes off.
BRONZE Nika Egadze GEO - Fourth last season, Egadze has been putting down steady results this season, with medals at all three events he competed in (incidentally all within four weeks of each other). In a competition like this, consistency will go a long way, and he seems ready for his first European medal.
4. Kevin Aymoz FRA - Speaking of another skater who has not had a great relationship with this competition, Aymoz was 31st two years ago (and didn’t make it out of the short program) and 22nd last year. He seems to have rediscovered a balance in his competitive mindset this season. With the exception of a 10th-place at Skate Canada, he has won every competition he’s been in. He’s also been competing with an injury, which has led him to come into every competition with a different jump layout.
5. Matteo Rizzo ITA - The skate-off for the Italian spot really truly is a skate-off. Given how close Rizzo and Memola were in the Italian selection calculations, whoever wins this matchup will likely take Italian’s second spot for the Olympics. Rizzo finished his season here last year with a solid fifth place, and Europeans has been a good competition for him during his career. The short program will be critical, and he will need to make sure all his triple are in prime form to hedge against any issues with his quad toe.
6. Aleksandr Selevko EST - Coming in off a win over his brother at Estonian Nationals, the older Selevko brother has had the advantage this season in the Olympic selection process. Does he need to beat his brother this week to make it to Milano given their records this season? I’m not sure. But he certainly cannot bomb this competition. He will be looking to bring some of the consistency he’s found in the last three events to Sheffield this week.
7. Nikolaj Memola ITA - A series of unfortunate events, including an injury and a car break-in, in late November forced him to miss Italian Nationals. He’s had to dig back from that injury to get ready for this event—and this skate-off with Rizzo for the Olympic spot. If he can rediscover some of the skating he had earlier this season, he’s got a shot, but it will be tough given his preparation time for this event.
8. Mihhail Selevko EST - The younger Selevko brother has had some solid skating this seaosn, but he hasn’t gotten the consistency that has kept him at the same level of scores as his brother. He will likely need a convincing win over Aleksandr to secure that spot in Milano.
9. Francois Pitot FRA - Replacing Siao Him Fa here, Pitot will make his Europeans debut. He was fifth and eighth in his two Grand Prix events this season.
10. Deniss Vasiljevs LAT - It’s really been a trying season for Vasiljevs as he’s tried to find his way independently for much of the season. He’s made steady improvements during the fall, and will look to find some more consistency here.