Gangneung / Republic of Korea

The ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2017 continued today in Gangneung, Korea, with the Pairs Short Program. The Four Continents Championships 2017 serve as a test event for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

4CC-Day1-Ladies-Gaby1-635624778Gabrielle Daleman (CAN) clinches lead in Ladies Short Program

Canada’s Gabrielle Daleman skated to a narrow lead over teammate Kaetlyn Osmond in the Ladies Short Program. Elizabet Tursynbaeva of Kazakhstan finished third.

Daleman opened her program to music from the ballet “Herodiade” with a triple toe-triple toe combination followed by level-four spins, level-four footwork and a double Axel. Only the landing of the triple Lutz was shaky. The 2015 Canadian Champion scored 68.25 points. “It was a fight tonight, but I’m happy with what I was able to accomplish and with the overall package. It’s been great competing in Korea for my second Four Continents and it is just so motivational and inspiring to compete in the Olympic rink”, the 19-year-old told the post event press conference.

Osmond’s performance to “Sous le ciel de Paris” and “Milord” featured a triple flip-triple toe combination, a triple Lutz and level four spins and steps, but the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating finalist crashed on the double Axel. The reigning Canadian Champion earned 68.21 points. “My short program was not the program I was hoping for today. Overall it went over pretty well, but there are lots of things I wish I would have done better. But it felt great to compete in this venue and to get my first program here under my belt and I’m looking forward to my long program”, Osmond commented.

Skating to “I Got Rhythm” by Nikki Yanofski, Tursynbaeva hit a triple Lutz-triple toe, a triple loop and double Axel to set a new personal best for her with 66.87 points. “It’s my first Four Continents and I’m glad that I could do what I did. I was just trying to do the same thing I’m doing in practice eve day. I’m looking forward to the long program and I will forget about today and think only about the long program”, said the Youth Olympic Games bronze medalist, who had celebrated her 17th birthday on Tuesday.

Mai Mihara (JPN) is within striking distance of the podium in fourth place at 66.51 points. 2016 Four Continents silver medalist Mirai Nagasu (USA) came fifth (62.91 points) and Dabin Choi (KOR) placed sixth (61.62 points).

The ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2017 continue Friday with the Free Dance and the Men’s Short Program. For more information, full entry lists and results please see:

www.isu.org and the official event website https://www.hellopyeongchang.com/FigureSkating/en/sub/index  Hashtag: #4ContsFigure