Team Skyliners (USA) perform during the ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships in Innsbruck, Austria.© ISU
Following a break of two years due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships are finally back. The World’s top teams gather this week in Hamilton (CAN) to find out who their new champions are.
Overview of the top contenders
The ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships will be held in Hamilton (CAN) on April 8th and 9th 2022. A total of 23 teams representing 19 ISU members have been entered for the Championships. The ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships have been held since 2000 and Hamilton has hosted the event in 2015 before. The Championships were cancelled in 2020 and 2021.
Finland tops the medal table with 25 medals, nine of them gold, followed by Sweden (13 medals) and Canada (12 medals).
Team Marigold Ice Unity (FIN) perform in the Short Program during the 2019 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championship in Helsinki, Finland.© ISU
Five-time World Champions Marigold Ice Unity (FIN) are looking for another title after claiming silver in 2019. The successful Finns have to expect stiff competition from their teammates Helsinki Rockettes (FIN), the reigning World bronze medalists.
Team Helsinki Rockettes (FIN) perform in the Short Program during the 2019 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championship in Helsinki, Finland.© ISU
Other medal contenders include Canada’s multiple World medalists Nexxice as well as Les Supremes (CAN) and 2016 World bronze medalists The Haydenettes (USA). Sweden is back with their new Team Inspire after their top team and multiple World Champions Team Surprise has ended their career in 2018.
Team Nexxice (CAN) perform during the ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships in Innsbruck, Austria.© ISU
Teams from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Great Britain, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey are competing as well.
Team Les Supremes (CAN) perform during the ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships in Innsbruck, Austria.© ISU
The Short Program consists of six required elements: Intersection Element, Move Element, No Hold Element, Pivoting Element – Block, Traveling Element - Circle. The Short Program is maximum 2 min 50 seconds in length.
The Free Skating program contains a total of nine elements. The following eight elements are required: Creative Element – Lift, Group Lift Element (gliding with rotations), two different Intersection Elements, Move Element, No Hold Element, Pair Element and Twizzle Element. The teams can choose one of these two elements: Artistic Element - Wheel or Artistic Element - Circle. The Free Skating is 4.00 min +/ - 10 seconds in length.
Originally called Precision Skating, Synchronized Skating was introduced in the 1950s. It is a highly technical form of Figure Skating characterized by speed, precisions, unison, intricate formations, synchro elements, difficult footwork, spectacular lifts and exciting transitions. A synchronized team consists of 16 skaters (plus up to four alternates).
The event is live streamed. Follow the event on social media using the hashtag: #WorldSynchro
Event Schedule
The schedule of the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships 2022 is as follows:
Friday, April 8: Short Program
Saturday, April 9: Free Skating
* 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).
