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All reigning European Champions Anastasiia Gubanova (GEO), Adam Siao Him Fa (FRA), Pair Skaters Sara Conti/Niccolo Macii (ITA) and Ice Dancers Charlène Guignard/Marco Fabbri plus two-time ISU World medallist Loena Hendrickx (BEL) are back in the medal hunt at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Kaunas (LTU) January 8 – 14. A total of 167 Skaters/Couples representing 32 ISU Members have been entered for this 116^th edition of the European Championships: 32 Men, 33 Women, 18 Pairs and 33 Ice Dance couples. Lithuania hosts for the first time an ISU Figure Skating Championship.

 

Overview of the competitors

 

Men: Chasing Adam Siao Him Fa (FRA)

Defending ISU European Champion Adam Siao Him Fa (FRA) is the one to beat in Kaunas. The Frenchman looked strong in the ISU Grand Prix series, winning his two events and qualifying for his first ISU Grand Prix Final. Siao Him Fa has upped his game and broke the 300-points barrier for the first time this season (seasons best 306.78 points). 2023 ISU European silver medalist Matteo Rizzo (ITA/seasons best: 246.01) is looking to challenge Siao Him Fa for the top spot on the podium.

Adam Siao Him Fa (FRA) competes during the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Grand Prix 2023 in Angers (FRA). @ISU

However, the Italian missed the National Championships in December due to injury, but hopes to be back in form in Kaunas. 2023 ISU European bronze medalist Lukas Britschgi (SUI/seasons best 263.43) is hungry for more in Kaunas after establishing himself as a top contender. Kevin Aymoz (FRA/seasons best: 279.09) is looking for his first medal at the ISU European Championships while 2022 European bronze medalist Deniss Vasiljevs (LAT/seasons best 221.95) wants to shine in Kaunas that is not far from his home in Latvia.

Deniss Vasiljevs (LAT) competes during the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating NHK Trophy 2023 in Osaka (JPN). @ISU

Others to watch include Vladimir Litvintsev (AZE), Nika Egadze (GEO), Nikolaj Memola (ITA), Mark Gorodnitsky (ISR) and Aleksandr Selevko (EST).

Women:  Loena Hendrickx (BEL) looking for redemption

Two-time ISU World medalist Loena Hendrickx (BEL) is again the top favorite heading into the ISU European Championships, following three medals on the ISU Grand Prix series. The ISU Grand Prix Final silver medalist scored a seasons best of 221.28 points. However, a year ago, Anastasiia Gubanova (GEO/seasons best: 187.66) beat her for the gold. The Georgian skater is aiming at the podium again.

Loena Hendrickx (BEL) poses during the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Beijing (CHN). @ISU

Following her two medals in the ISU Grand Prix series, Nina Pinzarrone (BEL/seasons best 198.80) is another podium contender. 2023 European bronze medalist Kimmy Repond (SUI/seasons best 191.94) is on the comeback trail after overcoming an injury. Polish Champion Ekaterina Kurakova (seasons best: 181.98) could become the first Polish female Single Skater to win a medal at the ISU European Championships.

Anastasiia Gubanova (GEO) competes during the 2023 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating - Grand Prix de France in Angers, France.@ISU

Other contenders include Nella Pelkonen (FIN), Sarina Joos (ITA) and Josefin Taljegard (SWE).

Pairs: New teams to challenge Conti/Macii (ITA)

In the Pairs, newcomers from Germany and Georgia are ready to challenge the defending ISU European Champions Sara Conti/Niccolo Macii (ITA). The Italians come with a silver medal from the ISU Grand Prix Final and a seasons best of 205.88 points to Kaunas. This season, the new team of Minerva Fabienne Hase/Nikita Volodin (GER) has turned heads by winning their ISU Grand Prix events and the ISU Grand Prix Final and has become a gold medal contender (seasons best 206.43).

Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii (ITA) compete during the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Grand Prix de France 2023 in Angers (FRA). @ISU

ISU Junior Grand Prix Final Champions Anastasiia Metelkina/Luka Berulava (GEO/seasons best 202.11) look ready to make an impact at the senior level and to challenge the leaders. They can become the first Georgian Pair Skaters to win a medal at the ISU European Championships.

 Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava (GEO) pose during the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023 in Beijing (CHN). @ISU

Reigning ISU European silver medalists Rebecca Ghilardi/Filippo Ambrosini (ITA) and ISU European bronze medallists Annika Hocke/Robert Kunkel (GER) are hoping for another podium finish this year. Other contenders include ISU Grand Prix Finalists Mariia Pavlova/Alexei Sviatchenko (HUN), ISU Grand Prix medalists Lucrezia Beccari/Matteo Guarise (ITA) and Camille Kovalev/Pavel Kovalev (FRA).

Ice Dance: Exciting medal battle expected

The Ice Dance competition in Kaunas promises to be exciting. Reigning European Champions Charlene Guignard/Marco Fabbri (ITA) are up against European silver medalists  Lilah Fear/Lewis Gibson (GBR). The couples have been close to each other with the British couple beating the Italians at the NHK Trophy and the Italians being ahead at the ISU Grand Prix Final earlier this season. Guignard/Fabbri come with a seasons best of 215.51 points to Lithuania while Fear/Gibson have 215.19 points.

Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri (ITA) compete during the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Grand Prix de France 2023 in Angers (FRA). @ISU

Lithuania’s medal hopes rest on two-time ISU Grand Prix bronze medalists Allison Reed/Saulius Ambruvelicius (seasons best 200.22), who are looking forward to compete in Ambruvelicius’ hometown. However, the Lithuanian couple needs to watch out for defending ISU European bronze medalists Juulia Turkkila/Matthias Versluis (FIN/seasons best 195.80).

Juulia Turkkila and Matthias Versluis (FIN) compete during the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2023 Espoo (FIN). @ISU

A group of up and coming teams such as ISU Grand Prix de France and Skate America bronze medalists Evgeniia Lopareva/Geoffrey Brissaud (FRA), Natalie Taschlerova/Filip Taschler (CZE) and Loicia Demougeot/ Theo Le Mercier (FRA) want to get as close as possible to the podium and it will be interesting to see where Diana Davis/Gleb Smolkin (GEO) will place after returning to the ISU European Championships following their country change.

Skaters/Couples need to have obtained a minimum total technical score in Short Program and Free Skating in order to compete at the ISU European Championships.

The International Skating Union (ISU) has supported the Skating Federation of Ukraine since the start of the war, implementing ISU Communication 2469, and also granting financial support to assist Ukrainian Skaters. The ISU reiterates its sympathy for and solidarity to all affected by the War in Ukraine. The ISU maintains its condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the strongest possible terms. The ISU Council met on June 9-11, 2023 and discussed the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) recommendations of March 28, 2023 for International Federations on the participation of athletes with a Russian or Belarussian passport in international competitions.The ISU Council decided to explore the feasibility issues with regard to potential pathways to implement the IOC recommendations within ISU Sports.The Council will continue to monitor the situation in Ukraine and its impact on the ISU activity as well as the decisions and their implementation within the Olympic Movement. In the meantime, ISU Communication 2469 remains in force.

Schedule of the event

The schedule of the ISU European Figure Skating Championships is as follows:

Wednesday, January 10:         Pairs & Men’s Short Programs
Thursday, January 11:             Women’s Short Program, Pairs Free Skating
Friday, January 12:                  Rhythm Dance & Men’s Free Skating
Saturday, January 13:              Women’s Free Skating & Free Dance
Sunday, January 14:                Exhibition Gala

For full entries and results, please see the ISU event page and the official website. Follow the discussion on social media using #EuroFigure and #FigureSkating. 

Where to watch the ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2024:

The ISU European 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.