Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier (USA) leading the way during the 2022 ISU Grand Prix MK John Wilson Trophy, in Sheffield, GBR © ISU
Reigning ISU World Champions Alexa Knierim/Brandon Frazier (USA) are poised for gold following a strong Short Program in Sheffield. Sara Conti/Niccolo Macii of Italy came second ahead of Germany’s Letizia Roscher/Luis Schuster who both scored a new personal best.
Knierim/Frazier opened their program to “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” with a triple twist and followed up with a set of triple toes and a big throw triple flip. The US Champions picked up a level four for their lift, side by side spin, death spiral and footwork to post a new season’s best of 75.88 points.
“Alexa and I feel very proud that we were able to put on another strong performance,” said Frazier at the post-event press conference. “We had a few technical things that we didn’t execute as well as we normally can, so we’re disappointed about that, but overall we’re happy with our performance and the fight tonight,” he said.
“When we finished Skate America we were very eager and motivated to work even harder,” Knierim explained. “We weren’t comfortable and ready at Skate America. We felt we made a lot of progress when we arrived here. Being here with our mental game and confidence is what I feel has grown and become stronger since Skate America.
“Throughout the season, the performances will become stronger and stronger. I am proud of us for stepping up and coming here with a different mindset,” she added.
Skating to the Tango “Oblivion”, Conti/Macii landed a triple twist, side by side triple Salchow and throw triple loop to achieve a personal best score of 68.69 points.
Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii (ITA) compete in the 2022 ISU Grand Prix MK John Wilson Trophy, in Sheffield, GBR © ISU
“We’re really happy with our performance. We are improving with every competition and we had two points more than in our last short program at Skate Canada,” Macii said. “We skated at Skate Canada and we did what we could at that moment. Coming home we realized where we could improve in our skating, giving more to the spectators. We tried to skate faster, give more pathos to the audience and we enjoyed it more. The audience saw it. We can’t wait to perform our free skating tomorrow.”
Roscher/Schuster set a new personal best of 60.24 points in their program to “In the Air Tonight” that featured a side by side double Axel and a slightly two-footed throw triple Salchow.
Letizia Roscher and Luis Schuster (GER) were in third place in the 2022 ISU Grand Prix MK John Wilson Trophy, in Sheffield, GBR © ISU
“I am happy we could reach a new personal best. I felt a little bit shaky in the beginning of the program, but after the first two elements I enjoyed it and had a lot of fun,” Roscher said.
“We enjoyed it more than our first Grand Prix,” Schuster added. ”We worked on the throw jumps. We looked at the levels and thought about why some things were not like we wanted them to be. At our second Grand Prix now, we had less pressure and we had more fun skating.”
Anastasiia Metelkina/Daniil Parkman (GEO) came fourth after Metelkina missed the triple toeloop (58.70 points) while Katie McBeath/Nathan Bartholomay (USA) finished fifth on 57.21 points.
Schedule of the event
The schedule is as follows:
Friday, November 11: Pairs & Men’s Short Program
Saturday, November 12: Women’s Short Program, Rhythm Dance, Pairs & Men’s Free Skating
Sunday, November 13: Women’s Free Skating, Free Dance, Exhibition Gala
The MK John Wilson Trophy in Sheffield (GBR) November 10-13, 2022, is the fourth of six events in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series. Great Britain hosts an ISU Grand Prix (senior level) event for the first time.
More than 150 Skaters/Couples representing 29 ISU Members have been invited to the Series. The maximum number of entries for each event is 12 Ladies, 12 Men, 8 Pairs and 10 Ice Dance couples.
The General Announcement of the 2022/23 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series is available here. The individual announcements are published under the respective events. Full entry lists and further information are available on the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series page.
Selection Criteria
In order for a Skater/Couple to be eligible to compete at an ISU Grand Prix event, a minimum total score must have been achieved in the 2021/22 or current 2022/23 season in an ISU event (Grand Prix, Junior Grand Prix, Championships) or a Challenger Series event. Exceptions apply to host country Skaters, previously ranked Skaters or split ranked Couples who return with new partners. The minimum total score is 3/5 of highest score per discipline at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2022 and are as follows: Women: 141.65, Men: 187.49, Pairs: 132.65, Ice Dance: 137.89.
Following the IOC recommendation and 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. The same applies to Officials listed in the respective ISU Communications and/or Regulations under Russia and Belarus (see ISU Communication 2469).
Grand Prix Standings
Men Women Ice Dance Pair Skating
Where to Watch
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events will be live streamed on the official ISU YouTube Channel in most countries. Find out where to watch the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating competitions.
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ISU Grand Prix Schedule
The schedules of each ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events are available below:
21 - 23 Oct, 2022 Skate America, Norwood (USA)
28 – 30 Oct, 2022 Skate Canada International, Mississauga (CAN)
04 - 06 Nov, 2022 Grand Prix de France, Angers (FRA)
11 - 13 Nov, 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy, Sheffield (GBR)
18 - 20 Nov, 2022 NHK Trophy, Sapporo (JPN)
25 - 27 Nov, 2022 Grand Prix Espoo, Espoo (FIN)
08 - 11 Dec, 2022 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, Torino (ITA)
About ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series started in 1995 (previously known a s the ISU Champions Series) and consists of six invitational international senior events and the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. The top six of the past World Championships are seeded. Competitors collect points in their Grand Prix events towards the qualification for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. Only the top six Skaters / Couples in each discipline can qualify for the Final.
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