This was published 12 years ago
Russia unearths figure skating prodigy
Russia has taken the gold medal in the teams figure skating and the undoubted star of the night was diminutive 15-year-old Julia Lipnitskaia.
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Lipnitskaia is the 2014 European champion, the 2013 Grand Prix Final silver medalist, and a two-time Russian national silver medalist.
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Lipnitskaia sealed the gold medal in the inaugural event to the euphoria of a packed Iceberg Skating Palace.
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She combined with the cream of Russian figure skating including national idol Yevgeny Plushenko to topple Canada and the USA.
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President Vladimir Putin watched the event and later joined the skaters rinkside wearing the team colours.
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Commentators were mesmerised by the teen's control and repertoire.
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She became the second youngest figure skater to ever win an Olympic gold medal.
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Lipnitskaia will head into the women’s individual competition hot favourite to collect a second gold medal.
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