Madison Chock and Evan Bates (USA) skate during the 2023 US Figure Skating Championships in San Jose, California © Getty Images
ISU World medallists Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA), Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) and Boyang Jin (CHN) lead the line-up at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Colorado Springs (USA) February 7 – 12, 2023. A total of 91 Skaters/Couples representing 13 ISU Members have been entered for this 23rd edition of the Four Continents Championships: 22 Men, 24 Women, 10 Pairs and 13 Ice Dance couples.
Overview of the competitors
Men: Boyang Jin (CHN) returns to competition
The Men’s event looks interesting with many contenders eager to step on to the podium. Two-time ISU World bronze medalist Boyang Jin (CHN) returns to competition after sitting out the ISU Grand Prix series due to injury and following his coaching change to Canada.
Boyang Jin (CHN) skates during the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, China. © Getty Images
Competition should come from the 2022 ISU Four Continents Champion Junhwan Cha (KOR) and bronze medalist Kao Miura (JPN). Cha has two bronze medals from the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating (seasons best 264.05 points) while Miura claimed two silver medals at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating (seasons best 273.19). Canadian Champion Keegan Messing hopes to take home a medal from what is probably his final appearance at Four Continents (seasons best 250.72). Other contenders include Shun Sato (JPN), Koshiro Shimada (JPN), Stephen Gogolev (CAN), 2022 ISU World Junior silver medalist Mikhail Shaidorov (KAZ), Jimmy Ma (USA) and Maxim Naumov (USA).
Women: Tight medal race to be expected
ISU Grand Prix Final silver medalist Isabeau Levito (USA) leads the Women in Colorado Springs and aims at the podium again after a spectacular senior-level debut season so far.
Isabeau Levito (USA) competes during the 2022 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Turin, Italy. © ISU
However, the newly minted U.S. Champion faces stiff competition from 2022 ISU Four Continents bronze medalist Yelim Kim (KOR) and ISU Grand Prix Finalist Rinka Watanabe (JPN). Levito earned a seasons best of 215.74 points in the ISU Grand Prix series while ISU Grand Prix Finalist Kim comes with a seasons best of 213.97 points to Colorado. Watanabe scored 213.14 points for her seasons best.
Rinka Watanabe (JPN) competes during the 2022 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Turin, Italy. © ISU
Others to watch are ISU Four Continents silver medalist Haein Lee (KOR), ISU Junior Grand Prix Final bronze medalist Chaeyeon Kim (KOR), Madeline Schizas (CAN), Amber Glenn (USA) and Bradie Tennell (USA), who returns to the ISU Championships after missing the past season.
Pairs: Miura/Kihara (JPN) want to write history again
In the Pairs, reigning ISU Grand Prix Final Champions and World silver medalists Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) want to make history again by becoming the first Japanese Pair Skaters to win an ISU Championship title. The couple looks back at a successful season so far and travels with a seasons best of 216.16 points to Colorado Springs.
Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) perform during the 2022 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Turin, Italy. © ISU
ISU Grand Prix Finalists Deanna Stellato-Dudek/Maxime Deschamps (CAN) want to challenge the Japanese team and aim for their first ISU Championship medal (seasons best 197.89). 2022 ISU Four Continents silver medalists Emily Chan/Spencer Akira Howe (USA) are looking for another medal on home ice. 2022 Four Continents bronze medallist Trennt Michaud returns with new partner Lia Pereira to the event.
Ice Dance: Chock/Bates (USA) go after third Four Continents title
Reigning ISU World bronze medalists and two-time ISU Four Continents Champions Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) headline the Ice Dance field.
Madison Chock and Evan Bates (USA) compete during the 2022 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Turin, Italy.© Getty Images
They need to watch out for Laurence Fournier Beaudry/Nikolaj Sorensen (CAN) who beat them at the NHK Trophy earlier this season. Chock/Bates have a seasons best of 211.94 points while the Canadians got 210.41. More teams hope to take home a medal or to get to the podium as close as possible: 2022 ISU Four Continents Champions Caroline Green/Michael Parsons (USA), 2022 ISU Four Continents silver medalists Kana Muramoto/Daisuke Takahashi (JPN), Marjorie Lajoie/Zachary Lagha (CAN), 2022 Four Continents bronze medalists Christina Carreira/Anthony Ponomarenko (USA) as well as Shiyue Wang/Xinyu Liu (CHN) and Marie-Jade Lauriault/Romain Le Gac (CAN).
Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Soerensen (CAN) perform during the 2022 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Turin, Italy.© Getty Images
Schedule of the event
The schedule of the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships is as follows:
Thursday, February 9: Women’s & Men’s Short Programs
Friday, February 10: Pairs Short Program, Rhythm Dance & Women’s Free Skating
Saturday, February 11: Pairs & Men’s Free Skating
Sunday, February 12: Free Dance & Exhibition Gala
For full entries and results, please see the ISU event page and the official website. Follow the discussion on social media using #4ContsFigure and #FigureSkating.
Where to watch the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2023:
The ISU Four Continents 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.
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