Milan, Italy

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Watch Ladies Free Skating Highlights

Spectacular performances, record-setting programs, surprising newcomers, first-time medalists, personal-best achievements and entertaining show numbers highlighted the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2018 in Milan. Time to look back at some of the best moments that the skaters gave to the audience.

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Kaetlyn Osmond (CAN)

Kaetlyn Osmond (CAN) won her first World title, jumping from fourth to first with an impressive performance of her dramatic ‘Black Swan’. “It’s been a really long and emotional season so I came here to enjoy myself and do my job. To make the podium was my ultimate goal but I never thought that being champion was possible,” Kaetlyn commented.

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Wakaba Higuchi (JPN)

Wakaba Higuchi (JPN) even soared from eighth place after the Short Program to second to take her first World medal. Wakaba was a relentless ‘Bond Girl’ in her Free Skating, hitting each element perfectly. “After the mistakes in the short program I was determined to give everything that I did in practice in the free, and I think I did that so I was very pleased. It gave me a lot of confidence that I was able to show everything I had at the end of the season,” the 17-year-old pointed out.

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Carolina Kostner (ITA)

Carolina Kostner (ITA) shone in her outstanding Short Program to ‘Ne me quitte pas’ with unique emotion and expression, earning a personal best score and the small ISU gold medal for this segment. “I am amazed and happy and joyful to be here. For me it’s a big honor, like a big cherry on the cake. I already felt amazing even before my performance because skating in my home country is so, so special and so emotional. You could feel the silence, you could feel the tears. I could feel the support and the passion. I remember, 15 years ago when I started to compete internationally, nobody came to watch figure skating in Italy and now we fill up this big venue,” the 2012 World Champion shared.

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Alina Zagitova (RUS)

Olympic Champion Alina Zagitova (RUS) might have struggled in the Free Skating, but she came back from disappointment with her exotic exhibition program ‘Afro Blue’, portraying a priestess of fire and she could smile again. “I felt a lot better after skating in the exhibition,” the 15-year-old said.

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Loena Hendrickx (BEL) ©Marco Tacca/Getty Images

Loena Hendrickx (BEL) finished in the top ten in her second World Championships, the best result for a Belgian Lady at Worlds since Alice Sue Claeys ranked 7th in 1992. “I am overwhelmed, it was amazing, I couldn’t have done betterand I am happy that I could show what I am capable of. I tried to do my best and it all worked out,” a happy Loena noted.

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Elisabetta Leccardi (ITA) ©Marco Bertorello/AFP/Getty Images

Newcomer Elisabetta Leccardi (ITA) qualified for the final in her World debut. “I feel very emotional now. It was my first senior World Championships and my first competition with such a big crowd and so many people who came to support me, even more than for the short program. It was the most beautiful competition I have ever done,” Elisabetta said.

Watch Ladies Short Program Highlights: