Katerina Mrazkova and Daniel Mrazek (CZE) win the Junior Ice Dance Free Dance in Calgary, Alberta (CAN) © ISU
Katerina Mrazkova/Daniel Mrazek (CZE) danced straight into history winning the first medal for a Czech Ice Dance team at the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships Saturday in Calgary, AB (CAN) – and it was the gold.
Mrazkova/Mrazek (CZE) make history
Katarina Mrazkova/Daniel Mrazek of the Czech Republic danced into history by claiming the first ISU World Junior title (and medal) for a Czech Ice Dance team. Silver medalists Hannah Lim/Ye Quan also made it into the history books, as the first Korean Ice Dancers to win an ISU Championship medal. Nadiia Bashynska/Peter Beaumont of Canada moved up one spot to earn the bronze.
Overnight leaders Mrazkova/Mrazek skated last and delivered a dynamic dance to “The Man in the Iron Mask”. The ISU Junior Grand Prix Final bronze medalists picked up a level four for the rotational lift, dance spin and twizzles while the circular steps, the one foot step sequence and the curve lift were graded a level three.
The brother and sister team scored a personal best of 106.17 points and totaled 177.63 points.
“It’s so nice to be the Junior World Champions. I still don’t believe it a 100 per cent,“ Mrazek said. “We are very happy that we achieved what we wanted to achieve at the beginning of the season. It's the motivation to do the same thing in the senior level,“ he continued.
Lim/Quan put out a dramatic performance to “Danse Macabre” that included three level four elements. The ISU Junior Grand Prix Final silver medalists posted a personal best with 103.31 points which added up to 174.39 points overall.
Hannah Lim and Ye Quan (KOR) take silver in the Junior Ice Dance Free Dance in Calgary, Alberta (CAN) © ISU
“We are really happy as well to have a world medal. I'm really proud that we able to work super hard the whole season, and that we were able to get a medal is just a celebration,“ Lim said.
“I'm really glad that we were able to get a first medal for Korea. My parents are both Korean and they asked me if I want to represent Korea,“ the Canadian-born Skater added.
Bashynska/Beaumont’s passionate performance to “The Red Violin” was highlighted by a beautiful combination lift and dance spin that merited a level four.
The ISU Junior Grand Prix Final Champions netted 101.13 points and accumulated 169.13 points overall to earn their second consecutive ISU World Junior Championship bronze medal.
Nadiia Bashynska and Peter Beaumont (CAN) take bronze during the Junior Ice Dance Free Dance in Calgary, Alberta (CAN) © ISU
“We are very happy obviously to end up on the podium. I’m proud of ourselves and everybody else here. It‘s only right to give everybody credit for how far we all came. It's been a long and a hard season for all of us,“ Bashynska said.
The Canadian and Korean couple are not junior age-eligible in the upcoming season and will move up to the senior ranks. “We’re looking forward to showing a new side of ourselves, obviously stepping up our game,” Bashynska added.
The Czech team is still junior age eligible next season, but want to test themselves at the senior level.
Phebe Bekker/James Hernandez (GBR) slipped from third to fourth at 169.07 points, missing the podium by just 0.06 points. Leah Neset/Artem Markelov (USA) moved up from seventh to fifth at 162.59 points with a dance to „Pirates of the Caribbean“. Celina Fradji/Jean-Hans Fourneaux (FRA) round up the top six at 156.92 points.
Darya Grimm/Michail Savitskiy (GER), who ranked sixth in the Rhythm Dance, withdrew citing illness.
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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