ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2023
Miura Riku she couldn’t help herself as she jumped for joy at the “kiss and cry” skate.
The TV screen in front of him and his partner Kihara Ryuichi It was the Japanese pair’s best of 80.72, but was not announced at the Saitama Super Arena.
But when that happened, the home crowd roared.
Miura/Kihara got into the lead themselves with a nearly flawless skate on Wednesday (March 22). ISU World Figure Skating Championships In Saitama, Japan, the skating-rich nation won its first world title in the doubles discipline by putting on a free program.
“We were confident in practice that we were going to do it, so we’re excited to win all the work and bring a great result,” said Miura. “The crowd really stood us up today. It’s the first time we’ve actually been able to hear it for a while [crowd] In a competition in Japan. It was very nice.”
Kihara added: “We’ve been training very well in Toronto. Tomorrow in the free skate, we’ll show everything we’ve worked on in practice. We weren’t sure if we could break 80 points, but we were sure about a new PB. But yes, we’re very happy with the result.”
The current world champions Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier skated last, but a fall by Frazier in the side-by-side jumps left the Americans second with a 74.64.
of Italy Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii they are third with a 73.24, Macii roared with joy as they both finished their program, winning by three points.
Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps They are fourth in Canada with 72.81 Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe He rounded the top five with a 70.23.
Miura/Kihara have had a golden season, capturing three Grand Prix events, among others Grand Prix Final and then last month Four Continents Championship. They were the first Japanese pair to win one of these ISU events, but the world would take them to the next stratosphere.
Knierim/Frazier are still a long shot ahead of Thursday’s (March 23) free skate. The US pair are looking to become the first pair since to successfully defend their world title Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford it did so in 2015-16.
Short pairings: Miura/Kihara excellent at home pressure
Skating ahead of Knierim/Frazier, Miura/Kihara went strong in their short, which previously held a career best. NHK Trophy with a 78.25 this season.
They opened with a crisp triple twist, then went strong on back-to-back triple toe loops, before their Axel lifts earned the day’s highest Grade of Execution (GOE) of 2.80. They didn’t even have a problem with a triple Lutz shot after that.
As the two fell into each other at the end, the Japanese crowd rose to their feet in applause. Miura’s exuberant reaction would come minutes later when Knierim/Frazier took to the ice for their program.
The Americans started strong, but lost significant points when Frazier fell on a jump shot. They rebounded well, including a powerful three-point shot by Knierim.
“We did a lot of the good things we do at home,” Frazier said. “I’m personally disappointed with the jump and the mistake. It happens, but I expect more from myself. I have to do better and I have to do it.”
They are competing without a coach, Todd SandHe had a heart attack earlier this month and has remained at home in California to continue his recovery.
“Todd’s condition is very serious,” an emotional Knierim said. “It’s hard to train when you feel broken inside. When your person isn’t there. That person is what gave us the fight. I think we did a good job today.
Conti/Macii are looking to win their first medal for Italy in the pairs discipline.
“It’s incredible to sit here with these two incredible teams,” Conti said. “For us it was the best short program we have skated. We are very happy. The emotion is too high [feelings] they are incredible.
Macii added: “Each new achievement has been incredible. Tomorrow we will do our best in freestyle. It’s a dream come true.”
Stellato-Dude is the oldest skater – male or female – at Worlds, the 39-year-old took a 16-year hiatus from the sport before returning in 2016.
“A close friend of mine told me that they think what I’m doing is bigger than me,” he said. “[That me competing is] really for everyone and not just for me. … There will be many others who will come after me, let’s say, older than usual and doing something special. That takes the pressure off me.”
