Boston / United States

The ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2016 continued in Boston, USA Thursday with the Ladies Short Program.

Gracie Gold (USA) wins Ladies Short Program

Gracie Gold (USA) won the Ladies Short Program. Russia’s Anna Pogorilaya and Evgenia Medvedeva follow in second and third place.

Performing to “El Choclo”, Gold nailed a triple Lutz-triple toe combination, a triple flip and double Axel as well as two level-four spins and level-four footwork to post a personal best score of 76.43 points. “I’m just so happy, excited, proud, and every emotion there could be. I had a great time and trusted my training. The crowd today was truly exceptional. I felt supported all across the arena, really comfortable and really loved. To set a season best and personal best at Worlds was really a magical moment”, the U.S. Champion said.

Pogorilaya, who skated last out of the 38 Ladies, produced a triple Lutz-triple toe, triple loop, double Axel and difficult spins and footwork in her routine to “Bolero for Violin and Orchestra” by Vanessa Mae and Walter Taieb. She earned a personal best of 73.98 points. “I’m happy for 50 percent, because the free skate is still to come. It is too early to celebrate. When I went out, I was very focused and I didn’t think about anything, I just kept a cool head and I took it one step at a time in the program. I am well prepared and I expected a strong performance from myself”, the European bronze medalist commented.

Medvedeva’s triple flip was shaky, but she recovered to land a triple loop-triple toe combination, double Axel and her spins and footwork merited a level four. The 2016 European Champion scored 73.76 points for her program to “Melody of the White Nights” by Isaac Schwartz.”Well, when you miss one element, the one you want to do the combination with, you get tense, because you need to switch your mindset and do another combination that you haven’t trained so much. You have to fight and you cannot make mistakes”, the Russian Champion noted.

Ashley Wagner (USA) placed fourth with a strong performance and is within striking distance of the podium at 73.16 points. Elena Radionova (RUS) in fifth place (71.70 points) and Satoko Miyahara (JPN) in sixth (70.72 points) remain in medal contention as well. 

The ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2016 continue Thursday evening with the Free Dance.