Figure skating-Estonia's Petrokina bounces back from surgery to win European title

SHEFFIELD, England, Jan 16 : Estonia's Niina Petrokina capped a remarkable comeback by claiming her second consecutive European women's figure skating title on Friday just weeks after returning to the ice following Achilles surgery.

The 21-year-old delivered a composed, confident skate to Hans Zimmer's Dune, landing seven triple jumps to score 145.53 points for the free programme and 216.14 overall.

After having surgery on October 9, Petrokina was not able to train her triple jumps until less than two weeks ago.

"I don't know how I do it, but I know I am unstoppable because I love what I do," she said.

"The first (European title) for me was shock. This time I came here to win and show one more time that I can do this because in Estonia some guys told me that it's unreal to win second time, and I just wanted to show that it's real."

Loena Hendrickx of Belgium, world silver and bronze medallist who is making a comeback from ankle surgery, climbed from fifth after the short program to finish second with 191.26.

"I was very relieved when I knew there was still a chance to come back at my level," said Hendrickx, who will compete in her third Olympics next month. "I think the power and the love for skating is just very big, and that's what kept me going."

Lara Naki Gutmann of Italy was third on 186.87. She skated to the soundtrack from Jaws and dozens of appreciative fans hurled stuffed IKEA sharks onto the ice after her programme.

FOURNIER BEAUDRY AND CIZERON LEAD AFTER RHYTHM DANCE

Earlier on Friday, Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron of France stormed to the top of the ice dance leaderboard, a result that underscored the promise of their fast-track partnership ahead of the Olympics.

Skating to Vogue by Madonna, the