Tallinn, Estonia

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Following the ISU European Figure Skating Championships (January 10-16), the attention now shifts this week to the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships with non-European top skaters competing in Tallinn, Estonia (January 18-23). Tallinn has stepped in to take over the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2022 due to the exceptional circumstances this season after the original host, China, returned the event.

Sixty-nine skaters from 12 ISU members have been entered for this 22nd edition of the Four Continents Championships:  17 Men, 20 Ladies, six Pair Skating couples and 10 Ice Dance couples. The ISU Four Continents Championships 2021 were cancelled due to the pandemic.

Skaters/couples need to have obtained a minimum total technical score in Short Program and Free Skating in order to compete at the Four Continents Championships.

Overview of the top contenders

Kazuki Tomono ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Rostelecom Cup 2021©International Skating Union 1236875298

Bronze medalist Kazuki Tomono (JPN) during the medal ceremony at the 2021 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Rostelecom Cup in Sochi, Russia. © International Skating Union (ISU)

Grand Prix Rostelecom Cup 2021 bronze medalist Kazuki Tomono (JPN) and NHK Trophy 2021 bronze medalist Junhwan Cha (KOR) lead the Men. Tomono comes with a seasons best of 264.19 points to Tallinn while Cha has posted a seasons best of 259.60 points. The challenge should come from Jimmy Ma (USA), Kao Miura (JPN), Camden Pulkinen (USA), Tomoki Hiwatashi (USA) and Brendan Kerry (AUS).

Young You KOR FCFSC 2020 INternational Skating Union ISU 1205012574

Young You (KOR) performs in the Gala Exhibition during the 2020 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Seoul, South Korea. © International Skating Union (ISU)

2020 ISU Four Continents silver medalist Young You (KOR) and 2017 ISU Four Continents Champion Mai Mihara (JPN) headline the Women’s field. You, who has a triple Axel in her arsenal, has scored a seasons best of 223.23 points and Mihara’s seasons best is 214.95 points. Yelim Kim (KOR), Haein Lee (KOR) and Gabrielle Izzo (USA) want to challenge for the podium as well. Others to watch include 2017 ISU World bronze medalist Gabrielle Daleman (CAN) and Audrey Shin (USA).

The Pairs event is a Canadian-American affair. Golden Spin Zagreb Champions Audrey Lu/Misha Mitrofanov (USA) have achieved a seasons best of 195.32 points. Evelyn Walsh/Trennt Michaud (CAN) have 168.87 points, but recently won the silver medal at the Canadian Championships with a strong performance. Also competing are Lori-Ann Matte/Thierry Ferland (CAN), Deanna Stellato-Dudek/Maxime Deschamps (CAN), Emily Chan/Spencer Akira Howe (USA) and Katie McBath/ Nathan Bartholomay (USA).

Carolane Soucisse Shane Firus ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Turin 2021©International Skating Union 1351514472

Carolane Soucisse/Shane Firus (CAN) compete during the 2021 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Turin, Italy. © International Skating Union (ISU)

The Ice Dance event features 2018 Four Continents silver medalists Carolane Soucisse/Shane Firus (CAN), Caroline Green/Michael Parsons (USA), two-time World Junior medalists Christina Carreira/Anthony Ponomarenko (USA) and Marie-Jade Lauriault/Romain Le Gac, who make their ISU Championship debut for Canada after formerly representing France.

  

2018 ISU Four Continents Ice Dance bronze medalist Kana Muramoto and Daisuke Takahashi (JPN) - the 2010 Olympic bronze medalist turned Ice Dancer - debut at Four Continents as a team.

Please note that for the seasonal best total scores only the ISU Grand Prix competitions (senior and junior) and ISU Challenger Series events have been taken into consideration, not other international competitions or National Championships.

Prize Money

The ISU awards a global prize money of US$ 294, 000 at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships to Single Skaters, Pair Skating and Ice Dance couples placed 1st to 6th. The prize money is awarded as follows:

 

Men and Ladies                                                          Pairs and Ice Dance (per couple)

1st place US$ 21,000                                                 1st place US$ 30,000

2nd place US$ 16,000                                                2nd place US$ 20,000

3rd place US$ 11,000                                                 3rd place US$ 12,000

4th place US$ 7,000                                                   4th place US$ 10,000

5th place US$ 5,000                                                   5th place US$ 7,000

6th place US$ 3,000                                                   6th place US$ 5,000

 

Event Schedule

The schedule of the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2022 is as follows:

 

Thursday, January 20: Rhythm Dance, Pairs’ Short Program, Opening, Women’s Short Program

Friday, January 21: Men’s Short Program, Free Dance

Saturday, January 22: Women’s and Pairs Free Skating

Sunday, January 23: Men’s Free Skating, Exhibition Gala

 

For more information, full entry lists and results please see the ISU event website and the official event website. Follow the discussion on social media using #4ContsFigure and #FigureSkating. 

  

Where to watch and follow the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2022: 

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. 

 

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