UPDATE: A day after Pechalat/Bourzat withdrew from Europeans with injury, defending European silver medalists Vera Bazarova/Yuri Larionov announced their withdrawal from the pairs' competition following a wrist injury that Larionov suffered in practice. They will be replaced by Ksenia Stolbova/Fedor Klimov on the Russian team.
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Two-time European champions Nathalie Pechalat/Fabian Bourzat withdrew from the European Figure Skating Championships today after an injury in practice. This will be the second season in a row where Pechalat/Bourzat have suffered an injury-related setback during the second half of the season.
L'Equipe reports that Bourzat suffered a partial tear of his right adductor muscles during practice last week and decided today to withdraw from next week's European Championships. They are looking toward the World Figure Skating Championships for their return, where they will be defending their bronze medal.
Last season, Pechalat broke her nose just weeks before the World Championships took place. She opted against surgery and practiced with a protective mask leading up to the competition. They went on to win their first career World medal. They had a successful Grand Prix this fall, winning two Grand Prix golds and a bronze at the Grand Prix Final.
It has been a month of injuries to some big names in the skating world. Earlier this week, defending European silver medalist Kiira Korpi withdrew from Europeans with an achilles injury. Two-time U.S. champion Alissa Czisny dislocated her hip during a warmup competition to the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
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