page_title: Yuko Kavaguti
section_title: 2012–13 season
hierarchical_section_title: Yuko Kavaguti / Partnership with Alexander Smirnov / 2012–13 season
caption_attribution_description: Русский: Юко Кавагути и Александр Смирнов (Россия) на финале Гран-при 2012-2013. Короткая программа.
context_page_description: Yuko Kavaguti is a pair skater who has represented Japan and Russia in international competition. In 2006, she began competing with Alexander Smirnov for Russia. They are two-time European champions, two-time World bronze medalists, two-time ISU Grand Prix Final bronze medalists, and three-time Russian national champions. In 2015, they became the first pair in history to complete two quadruple throw jumps in one program and the first to land a quadruple throw loop.
context_section_description: In the summer of 2012, Smirnov underwent surgery on the meniscus in his right knee. After August test skates, the pair decided to replace their planned short program to Cats with one set to a Strauss waltz.
  Kavaguti/Smirnov's first Grand Prix competition of the year was the 2012 Cup of China. Placing second in both the short and the long, they won silver behind China's Pang/Tong. This was their second consecutive medal at this event; they had previously won the gold. At the 2012 Trophée Eric Bompard in France, they were first in the short program with a score of 66.78. Although they placed second the free skate with a score of 121.21 behind Canada's Megan Duhamel / Eric Radford, they had enough points going into the free skate to win their first gold in France. At the 2012 Grand Prix Final, Kavaguti/Smirnov scored 58.02 after the short program due in part to a fall by Kavaguti on a throw and errors by both on the triple toe loops. In the free skate, Kavaguti/Smirnov skated first. Although their only mistake was a doubled triple toe loop by Kavaguti, low levels on some of the elements placed them in 5th in the free skate with a score of 120.70. They placed 6th over all.
  Kavaguti/Smirnov then competed at the 2013 Russian Championships in Sochi, Russia. They skated first in the short program and earned a level three on their triple twist, a level two on their death spiral and all other elements received a level four. They received a score of 70.19 and were in second place going into the free skate. They had a nearly flawless free skate with Kavaguti's hand touching the ice on a throw jump being the only mistake. They scored 137.18 and won the silver medal behind champions Tatiana Volosozhar / Maxim Trankov with a total score of 207.37.
  At the 2013 European Championships Kavaguti/Smirnov had a disastrous short program with Smirnov falling on the triple toe loop and Kavaguti stepping out of the triple loop throw. A bad ending to the death spiral along with low levels left them in 5th place with a score of 56.20. In the free skate Smirnov singled a double axel and then fell. They were fifth in the free skate with a score of 119.28 and finished fifth overall. It was the first time in five appearances that they failed to medal at Europeans.
  Kavaguti/Smirnov competed at the 2013 World Championships in London, Ontario. They were 4th in the short program with a season's best score of 69.98. During the free skate the pair was completing the final lift when Smirnov hit the boards and abandoned the lift resulting in the element receiving a zero. Moskvina said the arena was unusually narrow. With no credit given for the lift they dropped from 4th to 6th with a final score of 191.59.
caption: Kavaguti/Smirnov at the 2012 Grand Prix Final
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