Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov continued the Russian domination the European pairs event, which has seen the country claim gold 18 times in the past 23 years, since the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

The pairing fought off tough competition from Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov to secure the title in the Swedish capital, and saw them emerge as the successors of Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov, gold medallists for the past three years.

It meant Russia finished the Championships having won nine of the 12 medals available, including two golds claimed in two medals sweeps. 

France and Spain finished with one gold medal apiece, while Italy won a silver. 

Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov had previously won the title at the 2010 Championships in Talinn, Estonia, and the pair were last to skate in the free programme in the Swedish capital, achieving a score 137.81 points, despite struggling with the final lift.

Their combined total of 207.67 points was enough to secure gold after Stolbova and Klimov, who had led after the short programme, could only manage a combined score of 201.11, owing to a fall by Klimov, meaning the pair had to settle for silver for a second consecutive year.

"At last we did what we have to do and what we can do," said Kavaguti after the victory.

"The whole performance in itself was the highlight."

Russia secured a clean sweep of the podium at the European Championships for a second year in succession when they dominated in Stockholm ©AFP/Getty Images



Her partner Smirnov added "it's a medal in the European Championships and we are just so pleased."

"We're pleased the skate went well and we made everybody, the coaches and spectators, very happy."

The runners-up were left to reflect on what might have been, with Klimov commenting, "there is nothing positive I can say about our performance today."

"It was our worst performance of the season," the Olympic silver medallist added.

Russia's prospects for continued success at the European championships also look bright, with the 2014 world junior silver medallists Evgenia Taraova and Vladimir Morozov secured third place on the podium in their debut at the European Championships.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
January 2015: Russia secure female clean sweep at European Figure Skating Championships
January 2015: Spanish star claims third consecutive European title as Russia win pairs short programme
January 2015: Russia sweep ladies' short programme at European Figure Skating Championships
January 2015: Fernandez looks set to successfully defend title at European Figure Skating Championships