The ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2015 concluded Sunday at Mokdong Arena in Seoul, Korea with the Ladies Free Skating and the Exhibition Gala.
Polina Edmunds (USA) skates to gold
Polina Edmunds (USA) rose from fourth after the Short Program to win the Four Continents title in her debut at the event. Japan’s Satoko Miyahara repeated as a silver medalist and Rika Hongo captured the bronze.
Edmunds produced a triple Lutz-triple toe, a triple flip-single loop-triple Salchow as well as three more triple jumps and two level-four spins in her “Tinkerbell” program. The 16-year-old posted a new seasons best with 122.99 points and totaled 184.02 points to take gold. “This competition I wanted to skate well to gain momentum going into worlds. I knew that I had a shot (at gold) if I skated two clean programs. We have the same or more elements than everyone in the top five that were in the warm up. In the short program, we were held close together and I knew if I relaxed and skated like I knew I could, it was possible. I’m happy it came true”, the Californian explained.
Miyahara’s routine to “Miss Saigon” included five clean triples and three level-four spins, but she stepped out of a triple flip and fell on a triple Lutz. With 116.75 points the Japanese Champion was ranked second in the Free Skating and slipped from first to second overall at 181.59 points. “I didn’t feel any pressure after leading in the short program, but I was a little nervous today. I was thinking if I had a good performance, it is not a dream to win this competition. I am sorry, but I wasn’t able to put everything out that I am capable of”, the 16-year-old commented.
Skating to “Carmen”, Hongo landed five triples, but the triple flip-triple toe and a triple Salchow were underrotated. The ISU Grand Prix Finalist scored 116.16 points and accumulated 177.44 points. “I was able to get confidence, because I skated clean in both short and free, however I didn’t get 180 points which was my aim. To achieve this score, I have to improve several details. I will keep training hard for that and try to accomplish my goal at the world championships”, the 18-year-old said.
Gracie Gold (USA) dropped from second to fourth place (176.58 points). Zijun Li (CHN) placed fifth with 175.92 points and Yuka Nagai (JPN) came sixth.