Following the ISU European Figure Skating Championships the focus now shifts this week to the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships with many of the non-European top skaters competing in Seoul, Korea (February 4-9). Seoul has hosted the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships once before in 2015.
100 skaters from 12 ISU members have been entered for this 21th edition of the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships: 25 Men, 21 Ladies, 11 Pair Skating couples and 16 Ice Dance couples.
Skaters/couples need to have obtained a minimum total technical score in Short Program and Free Skating in order to compete at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships. Three out of four reigning ISU Four Continents Champions are back and hope to defend their title.
Overview of the top contenders
Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN) at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)
Two-time Olympic Champion Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN) headlines the Men’s event. The current ISU World Figure Skating silver medalist has competed three times before at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championship and has won silver each time: in 2011, 2013 and 2017. Now he finally wants to take the only major title he is missing in his impressive collection. With a season’s best of 322.59 points, Hanyu is the top favorite in Seoul. Competition should come from 2018 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Champion Boyang Jin (CHN/seasons best 268.31) and 2018 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating bronze medalist Jason Brown (USA/SB 255.09) and Korean Champion Junhwan Cha, who wants to shine on home ice (SB 230.44). Other contenders include new Canadian Champion Roman Sadovsky, Keegan Messing (CAN), Nam Nguyen (CAN), 2020 Youth Olympic Games Champion Yuma Kagiyama (JPN), three-time ISU Four Continents Figure Skating bronze medalist Han Yan (CHN) and 2019 ISU World Junior Figure Skating Champion Tomoki Hiwatashi (USA).
Rika Kihira (JPN) at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)
In the Ladies event, reigning ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Champion Rika Kihira (JPN) is back, but competition promises to be tough. Kihira comes with a season’s best of 231.84 points to Korea and will have to watch out for 2020 Youth Olympic Games Champion Young You (KOR/SB 217.49) as well as for teammate and 2018 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN/SB 202.47). Bradie Tennell (USA/SB 216.14) and 2018 ISU World Figure Skating silver medalist Wakaba Higuchi (JPN/181.32) are eying the podium as well. Others to watch include Yelim Kim (KOR), Eunsoo Lim (KOR) and Karen Chen (USA).
Wenjing Sui and Cong Han (CHN) at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)
Two-time and reigning ISU World Figure Skating Champions Wenjing Sui/Cong Han (CHN) lead the Pairs and are looking for their sixth Four Continents title. The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final Champions come with a season’s best of 228.37 points to Seoul. ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final silver medalists Cheng Peng/Yang Jin (CHN/SB 204.27), ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Finalists Kirsten Moore-Towers/Michael Marinaro (SB 210.35) as well as U.S. Champions Alexa Scimeca/Chris Knierim (USA/SB 202.41) are challenging for the podium as well. Other competitors include 2018 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Champions Tarah Kayne/Danny O’Shea (USA) and Liubov Ilyushechkina/Charlie Bilodeau (CAN).
Madison Chock and Evan Bates (USA) at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)
The Ice Dance event features defending ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Champions Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA), 2019 ISU World Figure Skating bronze medalists Madison Hubbell/Zachary Donohue (USA) and 2019 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating bronze medalists Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier (CAN). Chock/Bates earned a season’s best of 210.68 points at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, where they claimed the silver while Hubbell/Donohue scored a season’s best of 209.55 points (at Skate America). Gilles/Poirier picked up a season’s best of 209.01 points at Skate Canada. Other contenders include 2018 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Champions Kaitlin Hawayek/Jean-Luc Baker (USA), Shiyue Wang/Xinyu Liu (CHN), 2019 ISU World Junior Figure Skating Champions Marjorie Lajoie/Zachary Lagha (CAN) and 2018 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating silver medalists Carolane Soucisse/Shane Firus (CAN).
Please note that for the seasonal best total scores only the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 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 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 2020 is as follows:
Thursday, February 6: Rhythm Dance, Pairs, Opening Ceremony and Ladies Short Program
Friday, February 7: Free Dance, Men’s Short Program
Saturday, February 8: Ladies and Pairs Free Skating
Sunday, February 9: Men’s Free Skating, Exhibition Gala
Where to watch and follow the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2020?
Viewers will be able to watch either via their national broadcaster / channel and for countries where there are no broadcasters, the ISU will offer a live stream on the Skating ISU YouTube Channel. You will find the full list in the Where to Watch news here.
Subscribe to the ISU Newsletter or Press Releases to receive the latest information and the “Where to Watch” news. You can also subscribe to the Skating ISU YouTube Channel to receive notifications when live streams start or new videos are published.
Highlights, clips, interviews, behind the scenes:
YouTube: SkatingISU
Facebook: @ISU Figure Skating
Twitter: @ISU_Figure
For more information, full entry lists and results please see: www.isu.org and the official event website. Follow the conversation with #4ContsFigure and #FigureSkating .
