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Post by Admin on Mar 24, 2021 22:06:02 GMT
Crowded at top: Leaders separated by less than 3 points While it's Shcherbakova who leads after the short program, anything is possible in the free, especially after exquisite short programs from both Kihira and Tuktamysheva.
Shcherbakova, in her senior worlds debut, scored 14.07 points off of her difficult triple Lutz-triple loop combination, which she said was the focus of the program for her.
"In general the whole skate was full of nerves," she told reporters in Russian after her skate. "I had to watch every move, in general I am very satisfied that it all worked out. I am most satisfied with my [combination], it was the hardest jump in my program, and the most important one."
Shcherbakova spoke about getting back in shape after being off ice during the pandemic: "We had two months training at home. I understood that I needed to train as hard as I could. ... Without ice there are no chances to be in perfect shape. I was happy to come back to it. It was more difficult to get back into good shape."
Her combination gave her the cushion she needed, while the judges also awarded her in the program component marks with a 37.14, the highest of any skater. It's a surprising "win" in that department over Kihira, who scored a 35.40 in program components.
"Undoubtedly, the performance of the day," said Meryl Davis, the Sochi 2014 Olympic champion in ice dance. "From her fingers to her toes, Anna's elegance was on full display throughout that short program. From the moment she hit that opening position, there was a confidence to her performance and it was such a pleasure to watch."
Kihira's skating was not to be discounted, either. The Japanese star, still just 18 herself, hit her trademark triple Axel - though it received a quarter-rotation call - before hitting a triple flip-triple toe in combo (also called for a q) and triple Lutz. Her program proved mesmerizing, coach Stephane Lambiel saying to her as she left the ice, "Wow, you are a fighter."
Added Davis on Kihira: "Rika is such a brilliant skater and has set herself up really nicely heading into the long. She's expected to incorporate a quad Salchow into her free, the goal for Rika will be to maintain focus and composure as she pushes herself technically to challenge for that top spot on the podium."
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Post by Admin on Mar 25, 2021 0:58:17 GMT
Winner of the Day | Boikova / Kozlovskii (FSR) | Pairs Short Program | #WorldFigure Aleksandra Boikova and Dmitrii Kozlovskii have waited more than a year for this. The Figure Skating Federation of Russia (FSR) duo looked prime for a breakout performance at worlds in 2020, only for the event to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. They made up for that on Wednesday evening (24 March) at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Stockholm, Sweden, skating near to their peak and into the lead in the pairs competition with a 80.16 in the short program. They lead two-time world champions Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China, who were making their season debut. The Olympic silver medallists are in second at 77.62 while FSR duo Anastasia Mishina and Aleksandr Galliamov are third with a 75.79. It was a disappointing short for three-time world medallists Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov, Tarasova turning their side-by-side triple toeloops into a double, losing some five points on the mistake. They are in fourth place at 71.46. China's No.2 team, Peng Cheng and Jin Yang rounded out the top five with a 72.32. American teams Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc as well as Alex Knierim and Brandon Frazier are in sixth and seventh, respectively.
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Post by Admin on Mar 25, 2021 2:34:25 GMT
Practice Day 3: 2021 Worlds (Yuzuru Hanyu, Nathan Chen, Shoma Uno, Yuma Kagiyama, Rika Kihira)
Check out the latest clips from the third day of practice at the 2021 World Figure Skating Championships, featuring Rika Kihira, Nathan Chen, Yuzuru Hanyu, Shoma Uno, Mikhail Kolyada, Kaori Sakamoto and Yuma Kagiyama.
Note: This video has no sound.
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Post by Admin on Mar 25, 2021 6:39:45 GMT
Ladies' short program: Expect the unexpected The final groups produced plenty of drama, starting with the American Chen besting her previous personal record by some seven points to score a 74-plus and once again appear to be on the verge to helping the U.S. earn back three spots for the coming Winter Olympic Games next year.
"I'm really happy with my performance. Coming here I felt a lot of pressure and I know that I haven't been to worlds in such a long time," Chen, at worlds for the first time since 2017, said. "To be here and skate such a solid short program is such a huge confidence boost for me. I'm looking forward to taking that momentum into the free skate."
In the penultimate group, Tuktamysheva, back at worlds for the first time since her triumph for gold in 2015, nailed her patented triple Axel, then eased her way to the highest score of the day, putting the pressure on the final six skaters to come.
"A lot has happened in these past six years, but I think during these past few years I have become way more confident in [my triple Axel]," said the 24 year old, the oldest among the top 10. "I was nervous about how it would feel to skate worlds without people, but when I came to the ice, I had only one thing - I had to do the program, so it wasn't strange for me. It was more calm, I think, without the whole audience and I feel maybe not as nervous as if there was 1000 people around me. So I think it was okay for me."
Tuktamysheva confirmed she will not do her quad toe in the free, opting instead for two triple Axels. "I've already won by being here. I'm so happy about it."
Trusova comes unglued Skating first in the final group, however, Trusova played her Axel safe, going for a double versus the triple she had shown in practice this week. She was then off-balance in her triple Lutz, over-rotating in the jump, which cost her the combination.
Coach Evgeni Plushenko shook his head from the sideline.
"I think I didn't manage with my nerves," Trusova said. "Lately I feel very nervous at the competitions. I don't know [why that is]; I have to think about it. I will try to skate clean."
"While that wasn't the short program Alexandra was looking for, the technical content she has planned for the free can really help her to reclaim lost ground," explained Davis, a nod to Trusova's five planned quads in the free.
Trusova has the highest-ever score in a ladies' free skate, 166.62 at Skate Canada in 2019.
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Post by Admin on Mar 25, 2021 15:26:37 GMT
Press Conference: Men Short Program | ISU #WorldFigure​ Skating Championships | Stockholm 2021
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