Montpellier, France

 #FigureSkating 


Alexa Knierim, Brandon Frazier Skating Championships Montpellier 2022 @ISU 1387541335 (1)

Alexa Knierim/Brandon Frazier (USA) compete in the Pairs Free Skating at the 2022 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Montpellier, France. @ ISU

Pair Skaters Alexa Knierim/Brandon Frazier (USA) claimed the first ISU World Pair Skating title for the USA since 1979 when striking gold at the 2022 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Montpellier (FRA) Thursday. Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) took silver, the highest finish in history for a Pair Skating team of Japan. Vanessa James/Eric Radford (CAN) earned the bronze.

Miura, Kihira,  Knierim, Frazier,James, Radford WFSC Montpellier 2022 @ISU 1387546341 (1)

Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihira (JPN), Alexa Knierim/Brandon Frazier (USA) and Vanessa James/Eric Radford (CAN) pose in the Pairs medal ceremony at the 2022 SU World Figure Skating Championships in Montpellier, France. @ ISU

Overnight leaders Alexa Knierim/Brandon Frazier skated last and put out an excellent performance to “Fix You”, hitting a triple twist, triple toe-double toe, triple Salchow, throw triple loop and flip as well as level-four lifts. The 2021 National Champions posted a new personal best of 144.21 points and totaled 221.09 points.

“So many emotions I can’t even explain it – it was so much gratitude, fulfillment, excitement, disbelief - it was magical! In the moment, it was living a dream that Brandon and I always sought after but never knew it would actually be possible and we want to live in this moment for a long time,” Knierim shared. “I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end the season. For Alexa and I this was such a personal journey since we teamed up. For us to finish the season on this kind of program, that means so much to us. I’ve dreamed about this moment so many times but this (reality) is even better,” Frazier noted.

Alexa Knierim, Brandon Frazier Skating Championships Montpellier 2022 @ISU 1387541304

Alexa Knierim/Brandon Frazier (USA) compete in the Pairs Free Skating at the 2022 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Montpellier, France. @ ISU

Skating to “Woman” by Shawn Philips, Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara produced a triple twist, throw triple Lutz and difficult lifts. However, Miura struggled with the solo jumps and fell on the throw triple loop. The two-time ISU Grand Prix medalists earned 127.97 points and were ranked third in the segment like in the Short Program, but overall moved up to second place at 199.55 points. Their medal is the first World Pair Skating medal for Japan in ten years when Narumi Takahashi/Mervin Tran had won bronze in 2012.

Riku Miura, Ryuichi Kihira Skating Championships Montpellier 2022 @ISU 1387541362 (1)

Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihira (JPN) compete in the Pairs Free Skating at the 2022 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Montpellier, France. @ ISU

“Now we secure the medal but I don’t think our performance isn’t worth winning a medal today. We regret our performance today so next season I want to push ourselves hard and to the very end and we want to practice hard,” Miura commented. “I’m happy (with this first medal in ten years) and hope the next generation will find interest and want to challenge the Pairs discipline,” Kihara added.

Riku Miura, Ryuichi Kihira Skating Championships Montpellier 2022 @ISU 1387546325 (2)

Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihira (JPN) during the Pairs medal ceremony at the 2022 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Montpellier, France. @ ISU

Vanessa James/Eric Radford’s program to “Falling” by Harry Styles and “Maselstrom” by Karl Hugo included a triple Salchow, triple twist, throw triple flip and two level-four lifts. The only glitch was a messy triple toe-double toe-double toe combination. The Canadians were second in the Free Skating with 130.78 points and pulled up from fifth to third at 197.32 points and won the bronze in their first season as a team. They both have been on the World podium before with different partners: Radford is a two-time World Champion with Meagan Duhamel while James won World bronze in 2018 with Morgan Ciprès.

Vanessa James, Eric Radford Skating Championships Montpellier 2022 @ISU 1387541394 (1)

Vanessa James/Eric Radford (CAN) during the Pairs medal ceremony at the 2022 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Montpellier, France. @ ISU

“It feels like everything is coming together just when we needed to. We fought till the end, we didn’t just fight we didn’t just think of the elements, we really performed and we really felt comfortable on the ice, it felt at home,” James shared.

“I look back on this year as one of the best years of my life. It was one of the most incredible journeys and experiences that I’ve had thus far in my life and I’m so in gratitude,” Radford noted. “I’m 37 years old and after everything that I accomplished in my career to come back and experience in this sport and experience in a totally different and amazing way I have to thank Vanessa, I just can’t thank her enough for giving me this opportunity for this experience.”

The up and coming team of Karina Safina/Luka Berulava (GEO) placed fourth in their World debut on 191.74 points. Minerva Fabienne Hase/Nolan Seegert (GER) finished fifth with another strong performance on 189.61 points while Evelyn Walsh/Trennt Michaud (CAN) came sixth (176.02 points).

Karina Safina, Luka Berulava WFSC Montpellier 2022 @ISU 1387543675 (1)

Karina Safina/Luka Berulava (GEO) during the Pairs medal ceremony at the 2022 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Montpellier, France. @ ISU

Ashley Cain-Gribble/Timothy LeDuc (USA), who stood in second following the Short Program had to withdrew during the Free Skating as Cain-Gribble suffered an injury during the performance.

 

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

Wednesday, March 23:            Women and Pairs Short Programs, Opening Ceremony

Thursday, March 24:                Men’s Short Program, Pairs Free Skating

Friday, March 25:                     Ice Dance/Rhythm Dance, Women Free Skating

Saturday, March 26:                 Men’s Free Skating, Ice Dance/Free Dance

Sunday, March 27:                   Exhibition Gala

 

* Following the IOC recommendation, in order to protect the integrity of ice skating competitions and for the safety of all the participants of international ice skating competitions, the ISU Council based on Article 17.1.q) i) of the ISU Constitution, agreed that with immediate effect and until further notice, no Skaters belonging to the ISU Members in Russia (Russian Skating Union and the Figure Skating Federation of Russia) and Belarus (Skating Union of Belarus) shall be invited or allowed to participate in international ice skating Competitions including ISU Championships and other ISU Events (Full Statement to be read on ISU website).