Montpellier, France

 #FigureSkating 

Kaori Sakamoto WFSC Montpellier @ISU 1387722459 (1)

Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) competes in the Ladies Free Skating at the 2022 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Montpellier, France. @ISU

Kaori Sakamoto skated last and put out an excellent performance, reeling off a seven triple jumps including a triple flip-triple toeloop combination, a double Axel-triple toe-double toe as well as level-four spins and footwork in her program to “No More Fight Left In Me”. The Olympic bronze medalist maintained high speed throughout the performance and set a new personal best with 155.77 points. She accumulated 236.09 points to win the first World title for a Japanese lady in eight years. Mao Asada had won in 2014.

“I feel that this medal has a very precious meaning to me,” Sakamoto said. “It was the hardest month I have ever had, but this experience is something that only those who have competed in the Olympics and the World Championships can make, so it was a great experience to have it this time. I am very happy that I was able to overcome this challenge, because I don't think there is anything tougher than this in the future. It was the last time I performed this program in this season, so I felt it was a really good end to the season, and I was so happy to finally perform so well in the World Championships, I was so excited,” she continued.

Hendrickx Sakamoto Liu WFSC Montpellier @ISU 1239503869

 Gold medallist Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) (C), Silver medallist Loena Hendrickx (BEL) (L) and Bronze medallist Alysa Liu (USA) (R) pose on the podium during the medal ceremony after the women's free skating event at the 2022 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Montpellier, France.@ISU

Loena Hendrickx turned in another exciting performance to Oriental music that was highlighted by four clean triple jumps, difficult steps and spins. The ISU Grand Prix Premio d’Italia bronze medalist scored 142.70 points which added up to 217.70 points overall. Belgium never had won a World medal in Single Skating before and the last World medal for the country was the Pair Skating gold in 1948.

“I’m speechless am super happy and all my hard work paid off to stand here with the silver medal is unbelievable and I’m so proud I can do it for myself and also for Belgium,” Hendrickx shared. “I had a really hard time going into these worlds, I had a lot of pain (due to a groin injury) but I wanted to show one last time that I can do it to finish my season strong and I’m just so happy with the result. I didn’t want any pressure on me because I know I couldn’t train how I wanted, I was already happy to be here and of course I wanted to show my best because otherwise I wouldn’t come because I know that there was something in me that said you can do it and I’m so proud of myself that I didn’t give up and I did what I came for.”

Loena Hendrickx WFSC Montpellier @ISU 1387722634

Loena Hendrickx (BEL) competes in the Ladies Free Skating at the 2022 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Montpellier, France. @ISU

Alysa Liu went for a triple Axel in her routine to Petr Tchaikovski’s Violin Concerto in D, but it was underrotated. The 2020 World Junior bronze medalist went on to complete six clean triples and collected a level four for her spins. She netted 139.28 points and totaled 211.19 points. Liu is the first U.S. woman to win a World medal since Ashley Wagner earned silver in 2016.

“I’m still in shock. I think I did really good. I’m really proud of myself. I didn’t think I could do better than Olympics and I was like ‘it’s going to be hard to do it again at Worlds so soon after’ but I’m so happy. I took a week off after the Olympics and trained really hard for the little time I had and it paid off,” the 16-year-old said.

Alysa Liu WFSC Montpellier @ISU 1387723396 (1)

Alysa Liu  (USA) competes in the Ladies Free Skating at the 2022 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Montpellier, France. @ISU

U.S. Champion Mariah Bell landed five good triples, but slipped from third to fourth place (208.66 points). 2020 Youth Olympic Games Champion Young You (KOR) finished fifth at 204.91 points. Anastasiia Gubanova (GEO) pulled up from 14th place to sixth on 196.61 points.

 

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).