Maria Petrova (L) and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia perform in the Pairs short program at the European figure skating championships in Lyon, central France, January 17, 2006. REUTERS/Charles Platiau 

Russian Alexei Tikhonov (bottom) lifts his partner Maria Petrova during their performance of the pairs short programme in the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Final in Tokyo December 16, 2005. The Russian pair placed second with a score of 62.10 points after the short programme. REUTERS/Kimimasa Mayama 

Maria Petrova (top) and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia perform during the Pairs Free Skating competition at the Cup of China-ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Beijing November 4, 2005. Petrova and Tikhonov finished in the first place. REUTERS/Jason Lee 

Maria Petrova (top) and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia perform during the pairs free skating competition at the Cup of China-ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Beijing November 4, 2005. Petrova and Tikhonov won the first place. REUTERS/Jason Lee 

Maria Petrova (front) and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia perform during the Pairs Free Skating competition at the Cup of China-ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Beijing November 4, 2005. Petrova and Tikhonov finished in the first place. REUTERS/Jason Lee 

Russia's Maria Petrova (L) gets thrown by her partner Alexei Tikhonov as they skate their pairs free skating program at Skate Canada International in St. John's, Newfoundland October 28, 2005. The Russian pair won the silver medal in the event. REUTERS/Mike Cassese 

Germany's gold medallists Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy (C) stand on the medal podium with the silver medallists from Russia, Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov (L) and the bronze medallists from Canada, Valerie Marcoux and Craig Buntin after the pairs free skating program at Skate Canada International in St. John's, Newfoundland October 28, 2005. REUTERS/Mike Cassese 

Russia's Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov skate their Pairs Short Program at Skate Canada International in St. John's, Newfoundland October 27, 2005. REUTERS/Mike Cassese 

Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia perform the pairs free skating programme at the World Figure Skating Championships in Moscow. Maria Petrova (top) and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia perform the pairs free skating programme at the World Figure Skating Championships in Moscow, March 16, 2005. Petrova and Tikhonov won the silver medal. REUTERS/Alexander Demianchuk 

Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinin of Russia stand during awards ceremony at the World Figure Skating Championships in Moscow. (L-R) Silver medallists Alexei Tikhonov and Maria Petrova of Russia, gold medallists Maxim Marinin and Tatiana Totmianina of Russia and bronze medallists Dan Zhang and Hao Zhang holds their medals during an awards ceremony at the World Figure Skating Championships in Moscow, March 16, 2005. REUTERS/Anton Denisov 

Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinin of Russia wave during awards ceremony at the World Figure Skating Championships in Moscow. (L-R) Silver medallists Alexei Tikhonov and Maria Petrova of Russia, gold medallists Maxim Marinin and Tatiana Totmianina of Russia and bronze medallists Dan Zhang and Hao Zhang wave to public during the awards ceremony at the World Figure Skating Championships in Moscow, March 16, 2005. REUTERS/Alexander Demianchuk 

Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia perform the pairs free skating programme at the World Figure Skating Championships in Moscow. Maria Petrova (R) and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia perform the pairs free skating programme at the World Figure Skating Championships in Moscow, March 16, 2005. Petrova and Tikhonov won the silver medal. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor 

Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia perform the pairs free skating programme at the World Figure Skating Championships in Moscow. Maria Petrova (L) and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia perform the pairs free skating programme at the World Figure Skating Championships in Moscow, March 16, 2005. Petrova and Tikhonov won the silver medal. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor 

Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia perform in the pairs free skating programme at the World Figure Skating Championships in Moscow. Maria Petrova (L) and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia perform in the pairs free skating programme at the World Figure Skating Championships in Moscow, March 16, 2005. Petrova and Tikhonov won the silver medal. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor 

Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia perform in the pairs free skating programme at the World Figure Skating Championships in Moscow. Maria Petrova (L) and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia perform in the pairs free skating programme at the World Figure Skating Championships in Moscow, March 16, 2005. Petrova and Tikhonov won the silver medal. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor 

Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia perform during the pairs short programme at the World Figure Skating Championships in Moscow. Maria Petrova (L) and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia perform during the pairs short programme at the World Figure Skating Championships in Moscow, March 14, 2005. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor 

Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia perform during the pairs short programme at the World Figure Skating Championships in Moscow. Maria Petrova (L) and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia perform during the pairs short programme at the World Figure Skating Championships in Moscow, March 14, 2005. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor 

Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia perform during the pairs short programme at the World Figure Skating Championships in Moscow. Maria Petrova (L) and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia perform during the pairs short programme at the World Figure Skating Championships in Moscow, March 14, 2005. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor 

Germany's Aliona Savchenko (top) and Robin Szolkowy perform their free programme at the European figure skating championships pairs final at Palavela stadium in Turin, northern Italy January 26, 2005. Savchenko and Szolkowy finished in fourth place behind Russia's Tatinan Totmianina and Maxim Marinin who took gold medal, Julia Obertas and Sergei Slavnov who took silver and Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov bronze. REUTERS/Jerry Lampen JFL/acm 

Germany's Aliona Savchenko (TOP) and Robin Szolkowy perform their free programme at the European figure skating championships pairs final at Palavela stadium in Turin, northern Italy January 26, 2005. Savchenko and Szolkowy finished in fourth place behind Russia's Tatinan Totmianina and Maxim Marinin who took gold medal, Julia Obertas and Sergei Slavnov who took silver and Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov bronze. REUTERS/Jerry Lampen JFL/acm 

Germany's Aliona Savchenko (R) and Robin Szolkowy perform their free programme at the European figure skating championships pairs final at Palavela stadium in Turin, northern Italy January 26, 2005. Savchenko and Szolkowy finished in fourth place behind Russia's Tatinan Totmianina and Maxim Marinin who took gold medal, Julia Obertas and Sergei Slavnov who took silver and Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov bronze. REUTERS/Jerry Lampen JFL/acm 

Germany's Aliona Savchenko (TOP) and Robin Szolkowy perform their free programme at the European figure skating championships pairs final at Palavela stadium in Turin, northern Italy January 26, 2005. Savchenko and Szolkowy finished in fourth place behind Russia's Tatinan Totmianina and Maxim Marinin who took gold medal, Julia Obertas and Sergei Slavnov who took silver and Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov bronze. REUTERS/Jerry Lampen JFL/acm 

Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov from Russia perform their pairs final of the European Figure Skating Championships in Turin. Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov from Russia perform their pairs final at the European figure skating championships at Palavela stadium in Turin January 26, 2005. Petrova and Tikhonov won the bronze medal. REUTERS/Tony Gentile 

Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinin of Russia celebrate at the podium after the pairs final of the European figure skating championships in Turin. Russian gold medallists Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinin (C), flanked by compatriots Julia Obertas and Sergei Slavnov (L) and Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov, celebrate on the podium after the pairs final of the European figure skating championships at the Palavela stadium in Turin January 26, 2005. REUTERS/Tony Gentile 

Russia's Totmianina and Marinin perform their free programme in the European figure skating championships pairs final in Turin. Russia's Tatiana Totmianina (top) and Maxim Marinin perform their free programme at the European figure skating championships pairs final at Palavela stadium in Turin, northern Italy January 26, 2005. Russia's Totmianina and Marinin took the gold medal ahead of compatriots Julia Obertas and Sergei Slavnov and Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov. REUTERS/Jerry Lampen 

Russia's Totmianina and Marinin perform their free programme in the European figure skating championships pairs final in Turin. Russia's Tatiana Totmianina (L) and Maxim Marinin perform their free programme at the European figure skating championships pairs final at Palavela stadium in Turin, northern Italy January 26, 2005. Russia's Totmianina and Marinin took the gold medal ahead of compatriots Julia Obertas and Sergei Slavnov and Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov. REUTERS/Jerry Lampen 

Russia's Totmianina and Marinin perform their free programme in the European figure skating championships pairs final in Turin. Russia's Tatiana Totmianina (L) and Maxim Marinin perform their free programme in the European figure skating championships pairs final at the Palavela stadium in Turin, northern Italyn, January 26, 2005. Russia's Totmianina and Marinin took the gold medal ahead of compatriotes Julia Obertas and Sergei Slavnov and Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov. REUTERS/Jerry Lampen 

Russia's Totmianina and Marinin react after their pairs final in the European figure skating championships in Turin. Russia's Tatiana Totmianina (R) and Maxim Marinin react after their pairs final in the European figure skating championships at the Palavela stadium in Turin, northern Italy, January 26, 2005. Russia's Totmianina and Marinin took the gold medal ahead of compatriots Julia Obertas and Sergei Slavnov and Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov. REUTERS/Jerry Lampen 

Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov from Russia perform their pairs final of the European Figure Skating Championships in Turin. Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov from Russia perform their pairs final of the European Figure Skating Championships at the Palavela stadium in Turin January 26, 2005. Petrova and Tikhonov won the bronze medal. REUTERS/Tony Gentile 

Russia's Totmianina and Marinin react after their pairs final in the European figure skating championships in Turin. Russia's Tatiana Totmianina (R) and Maxim Marinin react after their pairs final at the European figure skating championships at Palavela stadium in Turin, northern Italy January 26, 2005. Russia's Totmianina and Marinin took the gold medal ahead of compatriots Julia Obertas and Sergei Slavnov and Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov. REUTERS/Jerry Lampen 

Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov from Russia perform during European Figure Skating Championships in Turin. Maria Petrova (top) and Alexei Tikhonov from Russia perform during the pairs short program dance competition of the European Figure Skating Championships in Turin January 25, 2005. REUTERS/Tony Gentile 

Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov from Russia perform during the pairs short program dance competition of the European Figure Skating Championships in Turin. Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov from Russia perform during the pairs short program dance competition of the European Figure Skating Championships in Turin January 25, 2005. REUTERS/Tony Gentile 

Russia's Petrova and Tikhonov perform their pairs short program in the European Figure Skating Championships in Turin. Russia's Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov perform their pairs short program in the European Figure Skating Championships at the Palavela stadium in Turin, January 25, 2005. Petrova and Tikhonov currently take a third place in the overall standings. REUTERS/Jerry Lampen 

Russia's Petrova and Tikhonov perform their pairs short program in the European Figure Skating Championships in Turin. Russia's Maria Petrova (L) and Alexei Tikhonov perform their pairs short program in the European Figure Skating Championships at the Palavela stadium in Turin, January 25, 2005. Petrova and Tikhonov currently take a third place in the overall standings. REUTERS/Jerry Lampen 

Russia's Petrova and Tikhonov perform their pairs short program in the European Figure Skating Championships in Turin. Russia's Maria Petrova (L) and Alexei Tikhonov perform their pairs short program in the European Figure Skating Championships at the Palavela stadium in Turin, January 25, 2005. Petrova and Tikhonov currently take a third place in the overall standings. REUTERS/Jerry Lampen 

Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov from Russia perform during the pairs short program dance competition of the European Figure Skating Championships in Turin. Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov from Russia perform during the pairs short program dance competition of the European Figure Skating Championships in Turin January 25, 2005. REUTERS/Tony Gentile 

Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov from Russia perform during the pairs short program dance competition of the European Figure Skating Championships in Turin. Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov from Russia perform during the pairs short program dance competition of the European Figure Skating Championships in Turin January 25, 2005. REUTERS/Tony Gentile 

PETROVA AND TIKHONOV FROM RUSSIA PERFORM DURING PAIR'S FREE SKATING COMPETITION AT THE WORLD FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN DORTMUND. Maria Petrova (top) and Alexei Tikhonov from Russia perform during the pair's free skating competition at the World Figure Skating Championships in Dortmund, March 24, 2004. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay 

PETROVA AND TIKHONOV FROM RUSSIA PERFORM DURING THE PAIR'S FREE SKATING COMPETITION AT THE WORLD FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN DORTMUND. Maria Petrova (top) and Alexei Tikhonov from Russia perform during the pair's free skating competition at the World Figure Skating Championships in Dortmund, March 24, 2004. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach 

PETROVA AND TIKHONOV FROM RUSSIA PERFORM DURING THE PAIRS SHORT PROGRAMME AT THE WORLD FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN DORTMUND. Maria Petrova (front) and Alexei Tikhonov from Russia perform during the pairs short programme at the World Figure Skating Championships in Dortmund, March 22, 2004. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach 

PETROVA AND TIKHONOV FROM RUSSIA PERFORM DURING PAIRS SHORT PROGRAMME AT WORLD FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN DORTMUND. Maria Petrova (top) and Alexei Tikhonov from Russia perform during the pairs short programme at the World Figure Skating Championships in Dortmund, March 22, 2004. REUTERS/Ina Fassbender 

PETROVA AND TIKHONOV OF RUSSIA PERFORM DURING PAIRS FREE SKATING COMPETITION OF THE EUROPEAN FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS. Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia perform during the pairs free skating competition of the European Figure Skating Championships in Budapest, February 4, 2004. Petrova and Tikhonov won the silver medal in the competition. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh 

PETROVA AND TIKHONOV OF RUSSIA PERFORM DURING PAIRS FREE SKATING COMPETITION OF THE EUROPEAN FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS. Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia perform during the pairs free skating competition of the European Figure Skating Championships in Budapest, February 4, 2004. Petrova and Tikhonov won the silver medal in the competition. REUTERS/Balazs Gardi 

Winners of the pairs competition celebrate on the podium at the European Figure Skating Championships in Budapest February 4, 2004. From left to right are, silver medalist Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia, gold medalist Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinin of Russia and bronze medalist Dorota Zagorska and Marius Siudek of Poland. REUTERS/Balazs Gardi LB/GB 

MARIA PETROVA AND ALEXEI TIKHONOV OF RUSSIA PERFORM THEIR SHORT PROGRAMME DURING THE EUROPEAN FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS. Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia perform their short programme during the European Figure Skating Championships in Budapest, February 2, 2004. The pairs free skating programme will take place on February 4. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh 

Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia perform in the pairs free
skating at the NHK Trophy international figure skating competition in
Asahikawa, northern Japan November 28, 2003. The Russian pair won the
gold medal for the event on Friday. REUTERS/Eriko Sugita

ES 

Pairs competition gold medal winners Maria Petrova (C) and Alexei
Tikhonov (C-rear) of Russia wave with Canada's Anabelle Langlois (L)
and Patrice Archetto (silver medallists) and bronze winners, Poland's
Dorota Zagorska and Mariusz Siudeck, during the presentation ceremony
at the NHK Trophy international figure skating competition in
Asahikawa, northern Japan November 28, 2003. REUTERS/Eriko Sugita

ES 

Xue Shen (bottom center) and Hongbo Zhao (top center) of China pose
with medals after winning the pairs free skating event at the 2003
World Figure Skating Championships in Washington March 26, 2003.
Tatiana Totmianna (bottom left) and Maxim Marinin (top left) of Russia
came in second while Maira Petrova (bottom right) and Alexei Tikhonov
(top right) of Russia came in third. REUTERS/Shaun Best

MR 

Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia perform their pair's short
program at the World Figure Skating Championships in Washington, March
24, 2003. The pair sits in third place after the short program.
REUTERS/Gary Cameron

PJ 

Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia perform their pair's short
program at the World Figure Skating Championships in Washington, March
24, 2003. The pair sits in third place after the short program.
REUTERS/Shaun Best

PJ/SV 

Maria Petrova, top, and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia perform their pair's
short program at the World Figure Skating Championships in Washington,
March 24, 2003. The pair sits in third place after the short program.
REUTERS/Shaun Best

PJ 

Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia perform their free program
during the Figure Skating Grand Prix Final in St.Petersburg March 1,
2003. Russia's Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinin finished first
ahead of Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao of China who were the second and
Petrova and Tikhonov - third. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor

GD/AA 

Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao of China perform their free program during the
ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in St.Petersburg March 1, 2003.
Russia's Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinin finished first ahead of
Shen and Zhao in second place and Russian compatriots Maria Petrova and
Alexei Tikhonov who finished third. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor

GD/GB 

Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinin of Russia perform their free
program during the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in
St.Petersburg March 1, 2003. Totmianina and Marinin finished first
ahead of Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao of China who were the second and
compatriots Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov - third.
REUTERS/Alexander Demianchuk

GD/GB 

France's Stephane Bernadis and Sarah Abitol (L to R), Russia's Maxim
Marinin and Tatiana Totmianina, Russia's Maria Petrova and Alexei
Tikhonov pose with their medals after their pairs free skating program
at the European Figure Skating Championships in Malmo January 22, 2003.
REUTERS/Paolo Cocco

PC/GB 

Russia's Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov kiss after their free
skating program in the pairs final at the European Figure Skating
Championships in Malmo January 22, 2003. Petrova and Tikhonov won the
bronze medal. REUTERS/Jerry Lampen

JFL/GB 

Russia's Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov perform during the pairs
free skating final at the European Figure Skating Championships in
Malmo January 22, 2003. Russia's Petrova and Tikhonov won the bronze
medal. REUTERS/Jerry Lampen

JFL 

France's Stephane Bernadis and Sarah Abitol (L to R), Russia's Maxim
Marinin and Tatiana Totmianina, Russia's Maria Petrova and Alexei
Tikhonov pose with medals after their pairs free skating program at the
European Figure Skating Championships in Malmo January 22, 2003.
Totmianina and Marinin took the gold medal, while Abitol and Bernadis
won silver and Petrova and Tikhonov the bronze. REUTERS/Paolo Cocco

PC 

Russia's Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov perform during the pairs
free skating final at the European Figure Skating Championships in
Malmo January 22, 2003. Petrova and Tikhonov won the bronze medal.
REUTERS/Jerry Lampen

JFL 

Maria Petrova (L) and Alexei Tikhonov from Russia perform during their
pairs free skating program at the European Figure Skating Championships
in Malmo January 22, 2003. Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov finished
in third place. REUTERS/Paolo Cocco

PC/GB