Katerina Mrazkova and Daniel Mrazek (CZE) take the lead in the Junior Rhythm Dance in Calgary, Alberta (CAN) © ISU
Katarina Mrazkova/Daniel Mrazek danced to first position in the Rhythm Dance as the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships continued Friday in Calgary, AB (CAN).
The couple, from the Czech Republic, had a slim lead over Korea’s Hannah Lim/Ye Quan in the Rhythm Dance. Phebe Bekker/James Hernandez of Great Britain came third.
Mrazkova/Mrazek put out a passionate Tango and Paso Doble set to “A Evaristo Carriego” and “Espana Cani”, collecting a level four for the Argentine Tango pattern dance and the rotational lift. The twizzles were graded a level three and four while the midline step sequence was a level three and two. The brother and sister team scored 71.19 points, just below their personal best.
“We know it was not our best, there were some mistakes and we know we can do better. It was still a great performance,” Mrazek said. “We are very happy that we can be here (in first place). In the free dance, we’ll just do the program that we usually do. The position we are in doesn’t matter.”
Lim/Quan had chosen a Milonga with “Primavera Portena” and produced difficult footwork, earning a level four for the twizzles, the midline steps and the second Argentine Tango section. The ISU Junior Grand Prix Final silver medalists improved their personal best by almost seven points with a score of 71.08 points.
Hannah Lim and Ye Quan (KOR) in the Junior Rhythm Dance © ISU
“We were able to achieve our goals that we set before we skated,” Lim told the post-event press conference. “We connected really well and we performed to the audience, but towards each other as well, which was really fun for a Tango program,” she continued.
“We are happy that the work we put into the technical part, for example in the step sequences, paid off,” Quan added. “Tomorrow is a new day we’ll do what we usually do for the free dance.”
Bekker/Hernandez’s Flamenco and “Tango de Besame” featured a level-four rotational lift and Argentine Tango pattern. The ISU Junior Grand Prix Finalists posted a new personal best with 68.89 points.
Phebe Becker and James Hernandez (GBR) in the Junior IRhythm Dance © ISU
“We really enjoyed our Rhythm Dance, and I felt that we laid everything we had today and we are happy with our scores and levels. We're happy with the way we competed together today, and we hope we can replicate that tomorrow,” Bekker said.
“For such an intense program, it's actually so much fun to skate,” said Hernandez. “We have these moments scattered around where we catch each other's eyes. Yes, it's intense, but we get energy from each other and today, probably the most all season, we did that.
“We found those moments, we connected and then we portrayed that as well. We just had a great time from beginning to end - and we were really present,” Hernandez continued.
ISU Junior Grand Prix Final Champions Nadiia Bashynska/Peter Beaumont (CAN) remain within striking distance of the podium in fourth place at 68.00 points. They collected a level four for three elements while the Tango Pattern garnered a level one and two. Celina Fradji/Jean-Hans Fourneaux (FRA) are currently ranked fifth with a personal best of 65.81 points, just ahead of Darya Grimm/Michail Savitskiy (GER), who scored another personal best of 65.67 points.
Skaters/Couples need to have obtained a minimum total technical score in Short Program and Free Skating in order to compete at the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships.
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).
Schedule of the event
The schedule of the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships is as follows:
Wednesday, March 1: Junior Pairs & Junior Women’s Short Programs
Thursday, March 2: Junior Men’s Short Program, Junior Pairs Free Skating
Friday, March 3: Junior Rhythm Dance & Junior Women’s Free Skating
Saturday, March 4: Junior Free Dance & Junior Men’s Free Skating
Sunday, March 5: Exhibition Gala
For full entries and results, please see the ISU event page and the official website. Follow the discussion on social media using #WorldJFigure and #FigureSkating.
Where to watch the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2023:
The ISU World Junior 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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