With four-time ISU World Figure Skating Ice Dance Champions Gabriella Papadakis/Guillaume Cizeron (FRA) sitting out the Championships this year, the Ice Dancers will crown new World Champions in Stockholm (SWE). Competition will be close and exciting with several top teams in the mix.
Overview of the top contenders
Victoria Sinitsina and nikita Katsalapov (RUS) at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating (RUS) 2020©International Skating Union (ISU)
The competition looks open as the World’s best Ice Dance couples are usually separated by just a few points. 2019 ISU World Figure Skating silver medalists Victoria Sinitsina/Nikita Katsalapov (FSR) and two-time ISU World Figure Skating medalists Madison Hubbell/Zachary Donohue (USA) as well as two-time ISU World Figure Skating medalists Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) are the leaders of the pack, but competition will be stiff.
Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue (USA) at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Championships 2020©International Skating Union (ISU)
Sinitsina/Katsalapov won the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating - Rostelecom Cup, but then missed the National Championships due to illness. The 2020 ISU European Figure Skating Champions came back to form for the Russian Cup Final in February to win clearly. Hubbell/Donohue claimed gold at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating - Guaranteed Rate Skate America as well as at the U.S. National Championships. Chock/Bates did not compete at the Guaranteed Rate Skate America, but looked strong at the National Championships in January, coming second.
Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin (RUS) at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2020©International Skating Union (ISU)
Multiple ISU European Figure Skating medalists Alexandra Stepanova/Ivan Bukin (FSR) came close to the World podium in 2019 and this time around aim higher than fourth place. The couple earned their first National title in December. 2020 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating silver medalists Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier (CAN) and 2019 ISU European Figure Skating bronze medalists Charlene Guignard/Marco Fabbri (ITA) want to challenge for a medal as well.
Laurence Fournier-Veaudry and Nikolaj Sorensen (CAN) at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating (USA) 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)
Others to watch include Tiffani Zagorski/Jonathan Guerreiro (FSR), Kaitlin Hawayek/Jean-Luc Baker (USA), Laurence Fournier-Beaudry/Nikolaj Sorensen (CAN) and Sara Hurtado/Kirill Khaliavin (ESP).
Sara Hurtado and Kirill Khaliavin (ESP) at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2020©International Skating Union (ISU)
The ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2020 were cancelled because of the pandemic. The 2019 ISU World silver and bronze medalists Sinitsina/Katsalapov and Hubbell/Donohue are competing again.
A total of 32 Ice Dance couples representing 24 ISU Members have been entered for the event.
Following a ruling of the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), Russian athletes compete not under Russia (RUS), but under “FSR”.
Skaters/couples need to have obtained a minimum total technical score in Short Program and Free Skating in order to compete at the ISU World Championships. Due to the limited possibilities to compete during the ongoing pandemic, the ISU has adapted the rules for obtaining the minimum score. For more details, see ISU Communication 2370.
The ISU World Figure Skating Championships serve as well as the main Olympic qualifying event. A maximum of twenty-four spots (out of 30 in total) are on the line in the Ladies and Men’s Singles events, a maximum of 16 (out of 19) entries in the Pairs and a maximum of 19 (out of 23) entries will be determined in the Ice Dance event. See OWG2022 Qualification system.
Prize Money
The ISU awards a global prize money of US$ 886,000 at the ISU World Championships to skaters/couples placed 1st to 6th. The prize money is awarded to winners and placed skaters/couples as follows:
Men and Ladies Pairs and Dance (per couple)
1st place US$ 64,000 1st place US$ 90,000
2nd place US$ 47,000 2nd place US$ 65,500
3rd place US$ 33,000 3rd place US$ 45,000
4th place US$ 19,000 4th place US$ 26,000
5th place US$ 11,000 5th place US$ 16,000
6th place US$ 8,000 6th place US$ 10,000
Event Schedule
The schedule of the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2021 is as follows:
Wednesday, March 24: Ladies and Pairs Short Programs, Opening Ceremony
Thursday, March 25: Men’s Short Program, Pairs Free Skating
Friday, March 26: Rhythm Dance, Ladies Free Skating
Saturday, March 27: Men’s Free Skating, Free Dance
Sunday, March 28: Exhibition Gala
For more information, full entry lists and results please see the ISU website and the official event website. Follow the discussion on social media using #WorldFigure and #FigureSkating.
Where to watch and follow the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2021?
The ISU World 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.
Stay connected with the ISU Social Media:
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IG: @ISUFigureSkating
Facebook: @ISUFigureSkating
Twitter: @ISU_Figure
Follow the conversation with #WorldFigure and #FigureSkating.
