#FigureSkating #PyeongChang2018
Wenjing Sui / Cong Han (CHN)
The Pair Skating event at the Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang should be very exciting with about six top teams competing for the medals.
Following their confident victory at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in December, World silver medalists Aljona Savchenko/ Bruno Massot (GER) top the seasons best list with 236.68 points, but reigning World Champions Wenjing Sui/Cong Han (CHN) are not far behind with a seasons best of 234.53 points scored at the NHK Trophy in November and finished second in the Final. Both teams did not compete internationally after the Final; the Germans withdrew from the ISU European Figure Skating Championships while the Chinese withdrew from the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships. However, you can expect them to be in top form in Pyeongchang.
Aljona Savchenko / Bruno Massot (GER)
While the Germans and the Chinese are the favorites for the top prize in Korea, a group of strong teams is ready to challenge them. World bronze medalists Evgenia Tarasova/Vladimir Morozov (OAR) defended their European title in Moscow last month and come with a seasons best of 224.25 points to the Games. Two-time World Champions Meagan Duhamel/Eric Radford (CAN) took bronze at the Grand Prix Final (seasons best 222.22 points) and Xiaoyu Yu/Hao Zhang (CHN) also shone on the Grand Prix Series (seasons best 219.20 points). Vanessa James/Morgan Cipres (FRA) suffered a setback when they came fourth at the European Championships, but should not be counted out (season best 214.37 points).
Evgenia Tarasova / Vladimir Morozov (RUS)
The level in Pair Skating has risen significantly and there are many other excellent teams to watch including 2018 European bronze medalists Natalia Zabiiako/Alexander Enbert (OAR), Valentina Marchei/Ondrej Hotarek (ITA), Kristina Astakhova/Alexei Rogonov (OAR), Cheng Peng/Yang Jin (CHN), Nicole Della Monica/Matteo Guarise (ITA), Julianne Seguin/Charlie Bilodeau (CAN), Kirsten Moore-Towers/Michael Marinaro (CAN), 2018 Four Continents bronze medalists Tae Ok Ryom/Ju Sik Kim (PRK), Alexa Scimeca Knierim/Chris Knierim (USA) and 2017 World Junior Champions Ekaterina Alexandrovskaya/Harley Windsor (AUS).
A total of 20 Pairs qualified for the Olympic Winter Games, however, 22 teams representing 14 ISU Members will be competing as Korea received a host country spot and the International Olympic Committee granted a wild card to Ryom/Kim (PRK), who at first had qualified a spot at Nebelhorn Trophy last September, but lost it when their National Olympic Committee failed to confirm their participation. Only the best placed 16 competitors in the Short Program will qualify for the final Free Skating.