Isabeau Levito (USA) leads in the Junior Women's Short Program in Tallinn, Estonia © ISU
Isabeau Levito (USA) flew high in the Junior Women’s Short Program to take the lead ahead of Korea’s Jia Shin and Ahsun Yun at the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn (EST) Saturday.
Levito nailed a triple flip, double Axel, triple Lutz-triple loop combination as well as level-four spins and footwork in her balletic performance to “The Swan” by Camille Saint-Saens. The 15-year-old posted a personal best of 72.50 points. It was a high-level competition with many strong performances.
“I feel I skated the way I wanted to and I didn’t hold back. I am very satisfied,” the ISU Junior Grand Prix Courchevel Champion said. “I trained extra hard on the performance aspect in my programs and everything improved a lot.
“My coach gets a lot of music, from there we dive into different types, softer or stronger. When I heard this song, I was very excited and I wanted to do it this year. It is something I didn’t do before. I was very eager to learn the new movements and ballet style for this program. It’s very fun to compete to it.”
Jia Shin (KOR) competes in the Junior Women's Short Program in Tallinn, Estonia © ISU
Shin’s performance to “La Boheme” included a triple Lutz-triple toe, double Axel, triple flip and difficult spins and steps. The ISU Junior Grand Prix Baltic Cup bronze medalist achieved a personal best with 69.38 points.
“I was a little nervous for the competition but I did my best for the performance and that is what brings me here,” the 14-year-old said. “I practice really hard every time, not only the jumps but also the non-jump elements, the spins. I train not only on ice, but off ice. This is the secret what made me better and got me here.”
Ahsun Yun (KOR) competes in the Junior Women's Short Program at the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships© ISU
Skating to “La Strada”, Yun produced a triple Lutz-triple toe, double Axel and a triple flip to score 66.28 points, improving her personal best by almost six points.
“First of all I am very happy I performed a clean program today,” the ISU Junior Grand Prix competitor told the press. “I am a bit disappointed in some parts. I lost a few levels, two spins were a level three. I will do my best for the free skating and do what I want to do – which is to skate clean.”
Lindsay Thorngren (USA) is just 0.14 points behind in fourth place (66.14 points). Seoyeong Wi (KOR) in fifth remains very close to the podium as well on 66.09 points. Niina Petrokina (EST) is currently ranked sixth at 65.90 points.
Event Schedule
The schedule of the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2022 is as follows:
Saturday, April 16 Women’s Short Program, Men’s Free Skating
Sunday, April 17 Ice Dance/Free Dance, Women’s Free Skating
* Following the IOC recommendation, in order to protect the integrity of ice skating competitions and for the safety of all the participants of international ice skating competitions, the ISU Council based on Article 17.1.q) i) of the ISU Constitution, agreed that with immediate effect and until further notice, no Skaters belonging to the ISU Members in Russia (Russian Skating Union and the Figure Skating Federation of Russia) and Belarus (Skating Union of Belarus) shall be invited or allowed to participate in international ice skating Competitions including ISU Championships and other ISU Events (Full Statement to be read on ISU website).
