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Post by Admin on Oct 21, 2013 6:32:18 GMT
Japan’s Mao Asada beat American Ashley Wagner on Sunday at Skate America. Asada, the leader going into the free skate, won despite a fall on her triple axel and a two-footed landing on her triple lutz. She scored 204.55 points, thanks to her elevated technical difficulty. Wagner, the 2012 Skate America champion, finished with 193.81. Gold medalist Mao Asada of Japan, silver medalist Ashley Wagner (L) of the United States and bronze medalist Elena Radionova of Russia pose with their medals during the women’s medal ceremony at Skate America 2013 in Detroit, Michigan, October 20, 2013. AFP PHOTO / Geoff ROBINS (credit: GEOFF ROBINS/AFP/Getty Images)
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Post by Admin on Oct 21, 2013 6:35:38 GMT
Wagner, the two-time defending U.S. champion, skated her free program without a fall. But Asada had more difficulty, stronger spins and footwork. "(Sunday) was really huge accomplishment, doing triple-triple, back-to-back clean programs," Wagner said. "This is the exact way I wanted to start the season. There is room to grow with the program; it's something that's not my natural type of skating. I'm very happy with what I did." American Ashley Wagner is out to prove she can compete with the best figure skaters in the world before the Sochi Olympics in February. It was the first time Wagner had gotten full credit from judges for her triple flip-triple toe loop combination in a short program. And the moment she landed it, her showmanship soared, carrying her through the remainder of a program that earned a personal best 69.26 points — good enough for second place heading into Sunday’s decisive free skate. “I was actually pretty terrified because it was a high-risk element for me,” said Wagner, a West Potomac High graduate. “But before I went out there, [Coach Rafael Arutunian] told me go do it: ‘Skate the triple-toe like you know how to.’ And I just kind of turned the rest off and went into auto-pilot.”
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Post by Admin on Oct 21, 2013 15:00:49 GMT
Russia's Elena Radionova, only 14 and the reigning world junior champion, finished third at 183.95 in her first ISU Grand Prix event. Elena Radionova of Russia performs in the Short Programme during Skate America in Detroit, Michigan USA
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Post by Admin on Oct 22, 2013 6:47:10 GMT
For complete coverage and exclusive interviews from this event and all figure skating events visit: www.icenetwork.com
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Post by Admin on Oct 26, 2013 8:29:52 GMT
American Gracie Gold won the women's short program Friday at Skate Canada. Gold finished with 69.45 points in her first major competition with new coach Frank Carroll.
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