Ukraine's skaters take gold, bronze at Helsinki meet

HELSINKI, Finland - Dmytro Dmytrenko continued Ukraine's recent domination of men's figure skating, winning the European figure skating championship on January 13 in Helsinki. The 19-year-old Dmytrenko, who resides in Kyyiv, held off a challenge from two Frenchmen, Phillippe Candeloro and Eric Millot, who finished second and third, respectively, reported the Associated Press.

Viktor Petrenko of Ukraine had won the Olympic gold for Ukraine in February 1992, although his nationality was downplayed at the time because Ukraine was officially competing as a member of the "Unified Team" of athletes from the former USSR.

A Ukrainian also finished strong in Helsinki in the women's division. Oksana Bayul, making her debut in the European championships, finished third behind three-time winner Surya Bonaly of France and Germany's Marina Kielmann. The Associated Press said Ms. Bayul captured three first-place votes in the free-skating competition, compared to Ms. Bonaly's six.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, January 31, 1993, No. 5, Vol. LXI

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