ISU

Kaitlin Hawayek/Jean-Luc Baker (USA) overtook overnight leaders Tiffani Zagorski/Jonathan Guerreiro of Russia to clinch the Ice Dance gold as competition wrapped up at NHK Trophy in Hiroshima on Sunday. The bronze went to Rachel Parsons/Michael Parsons (USA).

In the cut-throat world of Short Track Speed Skating, the idea of an athlete being disappointed with World Cup gold, because he really wanted to finish second, may sound somewhat preposterous. But that’s exactly what happened in Saturday’s Men’s 1000m race at the Utah Olympic Oval in Salt Lake City.

Since 2015, Choi Min Jeong (KOR) has been the undisputed queen of Short Track, winning World Championship gold medals each year, almost for fun. So after an indifferent start to the season, Saturday’s crowds at Utah’s Olympic Oval were thrilled to see the Korean skater return to winning ways with gold in the Ladies’ 1500m at the ISU Short Track World Cup in Salt Lake City.

A broad smile breaks across the face of Csaba Burján (HUN) as he explains just how little the people of Hungary know about winter sports. The majority of the country’s population still have no idea that Short Track Speed Skating even exists, despite Burján being an Olympic Champion

Olympic silver medalist Shoma Uno of Japan skated to the gold medal at NHK Trophy with 22 points to spare on Saturday and qualified for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. Russia’s Sergei Voronov claimed the silver medal and Italian Matteo Rizzo took the bronze.

Japan’s Rika Kihira soared to gold, making it one-two for the host country with Satoko Miyahara taking the silver as the Ladies event concluded with the Free Skating in Hiroshima (JPN) on Friday. Overnight leader Elizaveta Tuktamysheva of Russia claimed the bronze in what was a high-level competition.

Russia’s Natalia Zabiiako/Alexander Enbert cruised to the gold at the NHK Trophy in the Pairs Free Skating on Saturday, taking their second consecutive victory on the circuit. Cheng Peng/Yang Jin of China earned the silver medal and the bronze went to Alexa Scimeca Knierim/Chris Knierim (USA). The gold and silver medalists have assured themselves of a spot in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final.

Tiffani Zagorski/Jonathan Guerreiro of Russia captured the Rhythm Dance with almost five points to spare as the NHK Trophy continued on Saturday in Hiroshima, Japan. Kaitlin Hawayek/Jean-Luc Baker (USA) are sitting in second place, closely followed by teammates Rachel Parsons/Michael Parsons.

Thomas Insuk Hong (USA) was always meant to be a skater. Across the sporting world, it’s common for athletes to speak of a sense of destiny that led them inextricably towards their chosen sport. But Hong’s connection to skating goes deeper than most: he was almost born on the ice.

Olympic silver medalist Shoma Uno of Japan grabbed a narrow 1.12 point lead over Russia’s Sergei Voronov in the Men’s Short Program at the NHK Trophy on Friday. Dmitri Aliev of Russia placed third in the first segment of the competition.

Elizaveta Tuktamysheva of Russia edged Japan’s Satoko Miyahara by 0.09 points for the lead in the Ladies Short Program at NHK Trophy on Friday. Mai Mihara, also from Japan, is currently ranked third. 

The second stop of the ISU World Cup Short Track begins Friday 9 November. Don’t miss any of the action, including the first day of qualifying rounds, which will be streamed live on Skating ISU’s YouTube. Make sure you subscribe to our channel to receive live stream notifications.

Russia’s Natalia Zabiiako/Alexander Enbert skated to the lead in the Pairs Short Program as NHK Trophy opened in Hiroshima (JPN) on Friday. Cheng Peng/Yang Jin of China came second, followed in third place by Canadians Kirsten Moore-Towers/Michael Marinaro.

2018 Olympic silver medalist Shoma Uno (JPN) as well as 2018 World bronze medalist Satoko Miyahara (JPN) and 2015 World Champion Elizaveta Tuktamysheva (RUS) headline NHK Trophy this week in Hiroshima (JPN) and are keen on booking their tickets for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. Other skaters will compete in their first Grand Prix this season. NHK Trophy is the third of six events in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series 2018/19.

After a pulsating start to the Short Track season in Calgary, the racers hop over to Salt Lake City’s Utah Olympic Oval for the second ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating meeting of the season this weekend (November 9-11).