Olympic figure skating champion Alina Zagitova wobbled but still took the lead in Wednesday's short program at the European Championships.
The defending champion from Russia survived an under-rotated triple loop and a shaky landing on a triple flip to score 75 points — a relatively low score by her standards but still more than second-place teammate Sofia Samodurova with 72.88.
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Russia's Alina Zagitova performs in the ladies short program at the ISU European figure skating championships in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoSergei Grits)
Russia's Alina Zagitova performs in the ladies short program at the ISU European figure skating championships in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoSergei Grits)
Russia's Alina Zagitova performs in the ladies short program at the ISU European figure skating championships in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoSergei Grits)
Russia's Sofia Samodurova performs in the ladies short program at the ISU European figure skating championships in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoSergei Grits)
Russia's Sofia Samodurova performs in the ladies short program at the ISU European figure skating championships in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoSergei Grits)
Switzerland's Alexia Paganini performs in the ladies short program at the ISU European figure skating championships in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoSergei Grits)
Switzerland's Alexia Paganini performs in the ladies short program at the ISU European figure skating championships in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoSergei Grits)
American-born Swiss skater Alexia Paganini is third with 65.64 points, 0.03 ahead of Viveca Lindfors of Finland.
Russia's Alina Zagitova performs in the ladies short program at the ISU European figure skating championships in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoSergei Grits)
Russian hopes of a podium sweep took a hit when Stanislava Konstantinova fell, scoring 56.76 for 11th.
The women's free skate is Friday.
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Russia's Alina Zagitova performs in the ladies short program at the ISU European figure skating championships in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoSergei Grits)
Russia's Alina Zagitova performs in the ladies short program at the ISU European figure skating championships in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoSergei Grits)
Russia's Sofia Samodurova performs in the ladies short program at the ISU European figure skating championships in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoSergei Grits)
Russia's Sofia Samodurova performs in the ladies short program at the ISU European figure skating championships in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoSergei Grits)
Switzerland's Alexia Paganini performs in the ladies short program at the ISU European figure skating championships in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoSergei Grits)
Switzerland's Alexia Paganini performs in the ladies short program at the ISU European figure skating championships in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoSergei Grits)
