Overview
- Hase/Volodin totaled 221.38 points to Japan’s Miura/Kihara on 221.03, taking gold and comfortably meeting Germany’s Olympic benchmark.
- The pair debuted a specially composed short program and a Benoît Richaud free skate at their season opener following Volodin’s completed German naturalization.
- ARD reporter Daniel Weiss says the technical base is secure, with the emphasis now on performance ease and deeper emotional expression.
- Preparation remains heavily funded by private backers, including costumes covered by two-time Olympic champion Katarina Witt.
- German pairs depth showed as Annika Hocke/Robert Kunkel returned after Kunkel’s complex hand surgery to place eighth, with Hase/Volodin next set for the Tbilisi Challenger on Oct. 8–10.