The ROC trio of Kamila Valieva*, Anna Shcherbakova and Alexandra Trusova to lead the charge in the Women’s Figure Skating competition Tuesday at the Beijing Capital Indoor Stadium.
Silver medalist Anna Shcherbakova (ROC), gold medalist Kamila Valieva (ROC) and bronze medalist Alexandra Trusova (ROC) celebrate during the medal ceremony for the Women's competition at the 2022 European Figure Skating Championship in Tallinn, Estonia.@ AFP
Quads and triple Axels
Women’s Figure Skating has made a huge leap forward technically in this Olympic cycle. Until now, the triple Axel was a rare appearance at Olympic Winter Games and the most difficult jump done by women: Midori Ito (JPN) and Mao Asada (JPN) have landed it on Olympic ice and Mirai Nagasu (USA) was the only one to show it in PyeongChang 2018.
Mirai Nagasu (USA) competing during the Ladies Single Skating Free Skating at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Gangneung, South Korea.@ Getty Images
In Beijing not only the triple Axel, but even quadruple jumps are expected in the Women’s event – and by more than one Skater. Valieva, Shcherbakova and Trusova (ROC) all have quads in their arsenal. Valieva became the first one to land a quad at the Olympic Games – she did even two clean ones, a Salchow and toeloop - in the Team Event in Beijing 2022. Shcherbakova and Trusova have even planned the quad Lutz and flip.
However, these talented young Skaters not only can jump, but show many more skills in their programs and can realize the first Olympic podium sweep in the Women’s competition.
Kamila Valieva is the reigning European Champion and holds the highest scores for the Women’s Short Program, for the Free Skating and overall. Her programs to “In Memoriam” in the Short Program and “Bolero” in the Free Skating show off her elegance and flexibility.
Anna Shcherbakova (ROC) performs during the Women's Free Skating event at the 2022 European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia.@ AFP
Reigning ISU World Champion Anna Shcherbakova has been gaining momentum since her successful Free Skating at the ISU European Championships last month in Tallinn (EST), while “Russian Rocket” Alexandra Trusova aims at landing five quadruple jumps in Beijing in her Free Skating. Shcherbakova’s programs are set to “Dangerous Affairs” for the Short Program and “Master and Margarita” in the Free Skating, while Trusova picked “Frida” and “Cruella”.
Who can challenge the ROC women?
A group of talented young women are up to challenge the favorites. Among these, Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) shone in the Team Event with a perfect Free Skating - with the misleading music title “I Have No More Fight Left In Me” - and a new personal best score.
Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) skates during the Women Single Skating Free Skating Team Event at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, China.@ Getty Images
2018 World silver medalist Wakaba Higuchi (JPN) has a triple Axel and put out a strong Short Program in the Team Event. 2020 Youth Olympic Games Champion Young You (KOR) is another Skater who comes with a triple Axel to Beijing.
Young You (KOR) competes in Women Single Skating Free Skating in Figure Skating at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics in Lausanne, Switzerland.@ Getty Images
Alysa Liu (USA) is the first woman to include a triple Axel and a quadruple jump (Lutz) in one program and plans for now the Axel in her Free Skating.
Others to watch include Loena Hendrickx (BEL), Karen Chen (USA), U.S. Champion Mariah Bell, 2022 ISU Four Continents bronze medalist Yelim Kim (KOR), Ekaterina Kurakova (POL) and Anastasiia Gubanova (GEO).
*Following the hearing of the Ad hoc Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in the arbitration procedures relating to Figure Skater Kamila Valieva (ROC), the International Skating Union (ISU) duly noted and will respect the ruling namely that the provisional suspension of Kamila Valieva remains lifted. Further to the IOC Executive Board Decision and the IOC request, the International Skating Union (ISU) for reasons of fairness allows a 25th competitor to participate in the Women Single Skating Free Skating of the competition on February 17, in case Ms. Valieva is ranked in the first 24 of the Short Program on February 15. Further information on ISU website.
