Saitama, Japan

Banner WSTSSC Long

#FigureSkating   
Shoma Uno ISU 1447770905

Shoma Uno (JPN) competes in the Men's Short Program during the ISU 2022 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Turin, Italy.© ISU

Top Skaters from all over the world get ready to shine at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships March 20- 26 in Saitama (JPN). The line-up includes World Champions and Olympic medalists such as Shoma Uno (JPN), Kaori Sakamoto (JPN), Alexa Knierim/Brandon Frazier (USA) and Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA). A total of 181 Skaters/Couples representing 39 ISU Members have been entered for the Championships: 34 Men and 35 Women, 23 Pairs and 33 Ice Dance couples. 

 

Overview of the competitors

Men: Shoma Uno (JPN) leads the field

Reigning World Champion Shoma Uno (JPN) wants to cap off a successful season with a victory on home ice in Japan. The two-time Olympic medalist is the hot favorite after winning the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final with a seasons best of 304.46 points. Competition should come from “quad God” Ilia Malinin (USA) who made history this season by successfully performing the first quad Axel in competition (seasons best 280.37 points).

Ilia Malinin (USA) ISU Grand Prix Final Torino (ITA) ISU 1448134697

Ilia Malinin (USA) competes in the Men's Free Skating during the 2022 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Turin, Italy. © ISU

By the way, Uno also has a historic achievement to his record as he is the first Skater to land a quad flip in competition (in 2016).

Shoma Uno (JPN) ISU Grand Prix Final Torino(ITA) GettyImages 1448133788

Shoma Uno (JPN) competes in the Men's Free Skating during the 2022 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Turin, Italy. © ISU

A strong group of challengers is eyeing the podium as well: ISU Grand Prix Final silver medalist Sota Yamamoto (JPN), who competes in his first World Championship (seasons best 274.35 points), European Champion Adam Siao Him Fa (FRA/seasons best 268.98) and 2023 ISU Four Continents silver medalist Keegan Messing (CAN/seasons best 275.57 points).

Keegan messings (USA) Four Continents Championships Colorado (USA)  ISU 1246971306

 Keegan Messing (CAN) skates during the 2023 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Colorado Springs, Colorado. © Getty Images

Other contenders include 2022 ISU Four Continents Champion Junwhan Cha (KOR), two-time ISU World bronze medalist Boyang Jin (CHN), 2023 European silver medalist Matteo Rizzo (ITA) as well as 2022 European silver medalist Daniel Grassl (ITA) and Jason Brown (USA), who returns to the World stage after sitting out the first half of the season.

Women: World Champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) to face stiff competition

Reigning World Champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) is aiming at defending her World title, but faces stiff competition in Saitama as her rivals have achieved similar seasons best scores. The two-time Olympic medalist finished off the podium at the ISU Grand Prix Final, but was back at the top of her game at the Challenge Cup in February. Sakamoto comes with a seasons best of 217.61 points to Saitama.

Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Torino(ITA) GettyImages 1448206621 (2)

Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) competes in the Women's Free Skating during the 2022 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Turin, Italy.  © ISU

ISU Grand Prix Final Champion Mai Mihara (JPN) returns to the World Championships for the first time since 2017 (where she ranked fifth) and has her eyes firmly set on the podium (seasons best 217.43 points). 2022 World silver medalist Loena Hendrickx (BEL) wants to challenge the Japanese ladies (seasons best 216.34).

Loena Hendrickx (BEL) European Figure Skating Championships Espoo (FIN) GettyImages 1460275349 Loena Hendrickx (BEL) competes in the Women's free skating during the 2023 ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Espoo, Finland. © ISU


Others to watch include 2023 European Champion Anastasia Gubanova (GEO), ISU Grand Prix Final silver medalist and 2022 ISU World Junior Champion Isabeau Levito (USA), Rinka Watanabe (JPN), 2023 ISU Four Continents Champion Haein Lee (KOR) and silver medalist Yelim Kim (KOR).

Pairs: Showdown between Knierim/Frazier (USA) and Miura/Kihara (JPN)

Reigning ISU World Champions Alexa Knierim/Brandon Frazier (USA) and World silver medalists Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) are going head-to-head into the Pairs event and you can prepare for an exciting showdown in Saitama.

Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara ISU Grand Prix Final Torino (ITA) GettyImages 1447987176

 Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) compete in the Pairs Free Skating during the 2022 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Turin, Italy.  © ISU

The Japanese couple beat the Americans narrowly at the ISU Grand Prix Final and they went on to make history again by taking the ISU Four Continents title (seasons best 216.16 points). Knierim/Frazier did not compete at the ISU Four Continents Championships, but looked strong at the U.S. National Championship (seasons best 213.28 points).

Knierim and Frazier (USA) Figure Skating Championships San Jose (USA) GettyImages 1460395700 (1)

Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier (USA) pose with their gold medals at the 2023 TOYOTA U.S. Figure Skating Championships in San Jose, California.© Getty Images

The fight for a spot on the podium promises to be exciting with several teams in the mix: 2023 ISU European Champions Sara Conti/Niccolo Macii (ITA) hope to become the first Italian Pair Skaters to win a World medal. 2023 ISU Four Continents bronze medalists Deanna Stellato/Maxime Deschamps (CAN) are regaining their form after overcoming illness and 2023 ISU Four Continents silver medalists Emily Chan/Akira Spencer Howe (USA) impressed in Colorado Springs.

Chan and Akira Howe (USA) ISU Grand Prix Final Torino (ITA) GettyImages 1447989114

Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe (USA) compete in the Pairs Free Skating during the 2022 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Turin, Italy.© ISU

Others to watch include 2023 European bronze medalists Annika Hocke/Robert Kunkel (GER), 2023 ISU World Junior silver medalists Anastasia Golubeva/Hector Giotopoulos Moore (AUS) and 2022 ISU World Junior Champions Karina Safina/Luka Berulava (GEO).

Ice Dance: Gilles/Poirier (CAN) and Chock/Bates (USA) lead the charge for the podium                                                                                 

The Ice Dance competition focuses on the duel between Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier (CAN) and Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA). The Canadians dominated in the first half of the season and won the ISU Grand Prix Final. However, as Gilles underwent an appendectomy, the couple missed the National Championships and the ISU Four Continents Championships. Meanwhile they are back to full training and gearing up for Saitama (seasons best 219.49 points).

Piper Giles and Paul Poirier (CAN) ISU Grand Prix Final Torino (ITA) GettyImages 1448187749

Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier (CAN) compete during the 2022 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Turin, Italy. © ISU

Chock/Bates on the other hand had a somewhat slow start into this post-Olympic season but gained momentum by winning their third consecutive ISU Four Continents title last month and taking silver at the Grand Prix Final in December (seasons best 220.81 points).

Chock and  Bates (USA) ISU Four Continents Championships Colorado (USA) GettyImages 1465399149

Madison Chock and Evan Bates (USA) compete during the  2023 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Colorado Springs, Colorado. © ISU

More couples have set their eyes on the podium in Saitama. Reigning European Champions Charlène Guignard/Marco Fabbri (ITA) looked strong throughout the season so far and have a seasons best of 213.74 points. Current ISU Four Continents silver medalists Laurence Fournier Beaudry/Nikolaj Soerensen (CAN/seasons best 214.08) are ready to challenge for a medal as well.

Other top teams competing include 2023 ISU European silver medalists Lilah Fear/Lewis Gibson (GBR) and 2023 European bronze medalists Juulia Turkkila/Matthias Versluis (FIN).

Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson ISU 1460002399

 Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson (GBR) compete during the 2023 ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Espoo, Finland.© ISU

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 Figure Skating Championships.

Following the IOC recommendation and 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. The same applies to Officials listed in the respective ISU Communications and/or Regulations under Russia and Belarus (see ISU Communication 2469).

 

Schedule of the event

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


Wednesday, March 22:            Pairs & Women’s Short Programs
Thursday, March 23:               Pairs Free Skating & Men’s Short Program
Friday, March 24:                     Rhythm Dance & Women’s Free Skating
Saturday, March 25:                Free Dance & Men’s Free Skating
Sunday, March 26:                   Exhibition Gala

For full entries and results, please see the ISU event page and the official website. Follow the discussion on social media using #WorldFigure and #FigureSkating. 

 

Where to watch the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2023:

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 on the Where to Watch webpage here.

Subscribe to the Skating ISU YouTube Channel to receive alerts when the live streams start and when new videos are posted.