Ivanie Blondin (CAN) crowned a golden weekend at the ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Nur-Sultan with two wins on Sunday. After an unexpected career first 1500m World Cup victory, she joined Valérie Maltais and Isabelle Weidemann in winning the Team Pursuit to bring her gold medal haul for the weekend to three, including her triumph in Friday’s 5000m.
With the Beijing Winter Olympics just over two years away, China’s skaters are building into a growing force in Short Track with the final day’s action at the ISU World Cup in Shanghai offering a window into the sort of dominance home ice can give them.
Alena Kostornaia of Russia continued to set new records on her way to the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final gold medal and led her teammates Anna Shcherbakova and Alexandra Trusova to a first clean sweep in the Ladies discipline in the senior-level Final. Trusova became the first female skater to land a quadruple flip in competition.
Four-time World Champions Gabriella Papadakis/Guillaume Cizeron of France claimed their second ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final crown. Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) returned to the Grand Prix Final podium to claim their third silver medal in this event. The bronze went to 2019 ISU Grand Prix Final Champions Madison Hubbell/Zachary Donohue (USA).
Patrick Roest (NED) had to dig deep, but eventually celebrated his 24th birthday in style by winning a hard-fought battle with Jorrit Bergsma (NED) to clinch the first 10,000m World Cup gold medal of his career on Day 2 in Nur-Sultan on Saturday. Danila Semerikov (RUS) came second and Graeme Fish (CAN) took his career first World Cup medal in third place. In the men's 1000m Thomas Krol, Kjeld Nuis and Kai Verbij swept the podium for the Netherlands.
Japan’s Shun Sato stormed to the Junior Men’s gold medal at the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Torino (ITA) Saturday. Andrei Mozalev and Daniil Samsonov of Russia claimed the silver and bronze medal. All three Junior Men competed in their first Junior Final.
Maria Kazakova/Georgy Reviya danced right into Figure Skating history when they claimed the first ISU Junior Grand Prix Final title for Georgia in Torino (ITA) Saturday. Avonley Nguyen/Vadym Kolesnik (USA) were edged out of the gold by just 0.16 points. Russia’s Elizaveta Shanaeva/Devid Naryzhnyy earned the bronze.
Two-time World Champion Nathan Chen (USA) flew high at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, taking his third consecutive title with almost 44 points to spare, setting new record scores en route. Olympic Champion Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan settled for the silver and France’s Kevin Aymoz claimed the bronze in what was his debut in the Grand Prix Final.
2019 World Junior silver medalists Apollinariia Panfilova/Dmitry Rylov led the Russian Junior Pairs to the third podium sweep at the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final Saturday in Torino (ITA). Diana Mukhametzianova/Ilya Mironov took the silver and the bronze went to Kseniia Akhanteva/Valerii Kolesov.
Angelina Golikova (RUS) led a Russian 1-2 in the ladies' 500m to start the second day of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Nur-Sultan on Saturday. Compatriot Daria Kachanova finished just 0.01 seconds behind her to take silver, while Nao Kodaira (JPN) had to settle for bronze. Another Russian, Olga Fatkulina, came fourth to retain her lead in the 500m World Cup ranking.
Speed queen Kim Boutin again proved why she is the skater to beat over Short Track’s shortest and wildest distance, claiming her fourth successive 500m gold on day two of the ISU World Cup in Shanghai.
Olympic silver medalists Wenjing Sui/Cong Han of China added the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final title to their impressive resume Friday in Torino (ITA). Teammates Cheng Peng/Yang Jin repeated as Grand Prix Final silver medalists. Newcomers Anastasia Mishina/Alexander Galliamov of Russia claimed the bronze medal.
Alena Kostornaia of Russia set a new record score to win the Ladies Short Program at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final Friday in Torino (ITA) ahead of teammates Alina Zagitova and Anna Shcherbakova.
Four-time World Champions Gabriella Papadakis/Guillaume Cizeron of France danced to a narrow lead in the Rhythm Dance at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Torino (ITA) Friday. Defending ISU Grand Prix Final Champions Madison Hubbell/Zachary Donohue (USA) are just a little over a point behind in second place while Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) came third in the first segment of the Ice Dance event.
Maria Kazakova/Georgy Reviya of Georgia captured the Rhythm Dance, edging the hot favorites Avonley Nguyen/Vadym Kolesnik (USA) by just 0.04 points. Russia’s Elizaveta Shanaeva/Devid Naryzhnyy follow in third place.