Australia’s Kailani Craine skated to gold as Nebelhorn Trophy wrapped up Saturday in Oberstdorf, Germany. Matilda Algotsson of Sweden earned the silver medal and Alexia Paganini of Switzerland surged from sixth to clinch the bronze medal. All three Ladies secured an Olympic berth for their country.
Craine’s program to ”Moulin Rouge” included five triples jumps, but the two Lutzes received an edge call. The Australian Champion also completed three level-four spins and level-four footwork and picked up 109.43 points. Craine was ranked second in the Free Skating but edged out Algotsson by 0.44 points to take the gold at 167.45 points.”I felt really good in my free program today. I felt really prepared for this competition. It wasn’t the best free program that I’ve done, but it was enough to get me first place and to qualify an Olympic spot. I don’t think anything really can compare with what the Olympic Games are going to be like. It’s been a dream since I started skating, so I really just want to be able to skate my best, but I want to soak up every single moment”, Craine said.
Algotsson jazzy routine to ”Minnie the Moocher”, ”At Last” and ”Jumpin’ Jack” featured four solid triples as well as difficult spins and footwork. The 19-year-old set a new personal best for herself with 110.10 points and was ranked first in the Free Skating. Overall the Swede accumulated 167.45 points. ”I felt I really could enjoy my free program today, during the progam as well, not just after. I felt secure and I could trust my training and go for it. My legs were shaking a bit before, but I could handle it. For me it feels unreal that I actually might be able to go to the Olympics. I’m going to try to work hard, because I think it is something you will remember forever. Hopefully I will get to go”, Algotsson commented.
Performing to ”Phantom of the Opera”, Paganini landed a double Axel-single loop-triple Salchow as well as four more triples. The 15-year-old posted 102.39 points, a personal best, which added up to 155.98 points overall. ”I was really nervous going into this event, but I knew I was prepared and I can count on my training. For me it really hasn’t sunk in yet that I got the spot. So thinking to be at the Olympics is so crazy”, Paganini shared.
Nathalie Weinzierl (GER) slipped from third to fourth after making a few errors (155.85 points). Isadora Williams (BRA) in fifth place (154.21 points), Viveca Lindfors (FIN) in sixth (154.10 points) and Anna Khnychenkova (UKR) in seventh (151.08 points) earned Olympic spots.Weinzierl was the only Lady in the event not competing for am Olympic spot as Germany already got one.
The ISU Challenger Series Nebelhorn Trophy 2017 was the designated Olympic Qualifying Event this season. 25 Men, 33 Ladies, 11 Pairs and 16 Ice Dance couples competed for six available spots in Men’s, Ladies and Ice Dance and five spots in Pair Skating. More spots might become available if countries return Olympic quota places. 24 Olympic spots for Men and Ladies were allocated at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2017, and six more spots were available at Nebelhorn Trophy. 16 Olympic spots for Pairs were allocated at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2017 and five more spots were available at Nebelhorn Trophy. Originally four spots were available, but since France returned their second Pairs quota place, a fifth spot has opened up for the competitors at Nebelhorn Trophy. 19 Olympic spots for Ice Dance were allocated at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2017 and six more spots were available at Nebelhorn Trophy. Originally five spots were available, but since Denmark returned their Ice Dance quota place, a sixth spot has opened up for the competitors at Nebelhorn Trophy.
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