Italians inspired by Freddie Mercury in Espoo figure skating

ESPOO: Rebecca Ghilardi and Filippo Ambrosini channelled British rockers Queen as they took an early lead in pairs at the Espoo Figure Skating Grand Prix to keep alive their hopes of making the finals in Turin.

In the short programme at the sixth and last Grand Prix before the finals in their native country, the Italian pair skated to ‘Somebody To Love’ and ‘Another One Bites the Dust’.

Ambrosini grew a moustache for the routine

“I represent Freddie Mercury and we feel this programme, this music,” he said.

American pair Anastasiia Smirnova and Danylo Siianytsina, both born in Ukraine, were second, followed by Russian-born duo Anastasiia Metelkina and Daniil Parkman, representing Georgia.

In the men’s short programme, 25th-ranked Frenchman Kevin Aymoz jumped to a surprise lead over American Ilia Malinin. Japan’s Shun Sato was third. Aymoz, returning from an ankle injury, gave a spectacular display.

“I got injured six weeks ago,” Aymoz said. “I am glad to be here, even if I don’t have the technical level to do big quads. I’m not expecting a lot of results tomorrow. The injury makes me realise that I am here to enjoy the moment.”

In October, Malinin, landed only the second quadruple axel ever performed in competition to become Skate America’s youngest men’s champion, but on Friday, the 17-year-old under-rotated on two toe-loops and stumbled on his triple Axel.

“It wasn’t the best skate that I had,” he said.

In the women’s short programme, Loena Hendrickx of Belgium took the lead by 1.30 points from Japan’s Mai Mihara.

Another Japanese skater, Mana Kawabe, was third. Hendricks said she had struggled in the build up to the event.

“I had a hard time working towards this competition. I felt a little ill last week and my blood results were not very good, so I had to take a little bit of rest,” she said.