Reigning ISU World bronze medalists Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) took their third ISU Four Continents title in style, winning with six points to spare over Laurence Fournier Beaudry/Nikolaj Sorensen of Canada.
Fellow Canadians Marjorie Lajoie/Zachary Lagha claimed the bronze. It was the first Four Continents Championships medal for either Canadian couple.
Chock/Bates put out a mesmerizing performance of their dance to “Souffrance” and “Les Tectoniques”, portraying the spirits of air and fire. The three-time ISU World medalists effortlessly executed intricate footwork and beautiful lifts that flowed seamlessly together to create a special moment on the ice.
Chock/Bates (USA) effortlessly won their third Four Continents Ice Dance gold following victories in 2019 and 2020 © ISU
The US Champions collected a level four for and three for their elements and achieved a new personal best with 133.14 points. Overall they totaled 220.81 points to take gold.
“It's an absolute dream and honor,” Chock said.
“This is becoming one of our favorite competitions. Just that energy between all the competitors is always fun at Four Continents and it was wonderful to perform here in the US, in Colorado Springs, the home crowd made it very special.
“I think it (the performance) is a testament to our training. We've been putting in a lot of work since the Grand Prix Final. We had December and January to really hone in on our programs and train extra hard to make sure we were ready for altitude before we left for the US Championships. And so that work just came out on the ice today.”
Bates compared this third title to the ones they won in 2019 and 2020.
“The first time we were very surprised we won. The second time we won, we didn't skate our best. And today, I think, was the right mix of feeling really prepared, skating really well, and still being surprised, in a different way,” he said.
Fournier Beaudry/Soerensen’s passionate performance to a “Mexican Flamenco” included excellent steps and lifts as well, only her part of the one-foot step sequence was rated a level two while the twizzles, dance spin and the stationary lift were graded a level four.
The Canadian Champions set a personal best for the Free Dance with 127.80 points and accumulated 214.08 points, another lifetime best for the team.
Fournier Beaudry/Soerensen (CAN) danced a passionate Flamenco to win their first ISU Championship medal after 11 years together © ISU
“We're just so pleased winning our first championship medal of our entire career. It is our 11th year skating together,” Soerensen noted.
“We are so happy with the personal best. We put in some really, really hard work these last couple of weeks at home.”
However, the couple had not been sure they would come to Colorado Springs as Fournier Beaudry injured her right knee last Friday week.
“Being able to come here this week was really emotional,” Soerensen added.
“Laurence sustained a grade one MCL tear on her right knee. That she's here today, it's a miracle. She couldn't walk Friday, Saturday, Sunday and we just took the ice 30 minutes Monday. So we are just really, really proud of that.”
Lajoie/Lagha had chosen a completely different type of program. Their balletic performance to “Nureyev” included five level-four elements and, like the other medalists, the couple picked up a personal best for the Free Dance with 120.96 points for a total of 200.00 points.
Lajoie/Lagha (CAN) achieved a personal best for their balletic Free Dance to secure their bronze medal © ISU
“It is the cherry on top of a perfect season, we could not have given more. In each competition we strived to give our maximum,” Lagha commented.
Lajoie added: “It [winning the medal] feels amazing because it is a big championship, and we have a podium finish in every competition this season.”
All three couples scored personal bests in the Free Dance at the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs © ISU
2022 Four Continents bronze medalists Christina Carreira/Anthony Ponomarenko (USA) came fourth with their dance to “Summertime” on 189.78 points. 2022 ISU Four Continents Champions Caroline Green/Michael Parsons (USA) were ranked fourth in the Free Dance segment with their “Rhapsody in Blue”, but overall remained in fifth place (186.88 points).
Marie-Jade Lauriault/Romain Le Gac (CAN) moved up from eighth to sixth at 171.35 points. 2022 ISU Four Continents silver medalists Kana Muramoto/Daisuke Takahashi (JPN) dropped to ninth after he fell in the footwork and right at the end, after their choreo-lift.
Schedule of the event
The schedule of the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships is as follows:
Thursday, February 9: Women’s & Men’s Short Programs
Friday, February 10: Pairs Short Program, Rhythm Dance & Women’s Free Skating
Saturday, February 11: Pairs & Men’s Free Skating
Sunday, February 12: Free Dance & Exhibition Gala
For full entries and results, please see the ISU event page and the official website. Follow the discussion on social media using #4ContsFigure and #FigureSkating.
Where to watch the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2023:
The ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships will be live streamed on the Skating ISU YouTube Channel. Geo-restrictions will apply in markets where TV rights are in place. You will find the full list in the Where to Watch news here.
Subscribe to the Skating ISU YouTube Channel to receive alerts when the live streams start and when new videos are posted.
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