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#SynchroSkating

Team Fintastic (FIN) competes during the ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships in Angers (FRA) @ISU

Fintastic Junior struck gold, completing the hat trick, as the ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships concluded Saturday in Angers (FRA). A total of 23 teams with 512 Skaters representing 19 ISU Members competed in what was the eighth edition of the event.

Fintastic (FIN) golden once more

Team Fintastic Junior (FIN) poses during the ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships in Angers (FRA) @ISU

Team Fintastic Junior of Finland captured their third consecutive World Junior Synchronized title in an exciting competition with a lot of movement in the standings. Canada’s Nexxice Junior moved up from fourth to take the silver medal while the Skyliners Junior (USA) slipped from second to third place.

The favored Finns from Fintastic stood in third place following the Short Program with 67.18 points as their Pivoting Block was rated a level one while the two leading teams earned a level three for this element. The team opened their captivating Free Skating routine set to a music mix that that includes “Run With Your Heart”, “Revolt” and “Becoming Human” with a level-four Move Element and followed up with a level-four Line and Synchronized Spin. The Finns collected a level four as well for the two Intersections but there was one fall. They scored 124.54 points and moved up to first at 191.72 points overall. It is their third title and their fifth medal overall in the event.

Team Fintastic Junior (FIN) competes during the ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships in Angers (FRA) @ISU

Nexxice Juniors, who stood in fourth place following the Short Program, put out a strong Free Skating to “Chasing Cars” and “The Stars Are Aligning For Us“ that featured seven level-four elements. Indeed, the stars were aligning for the Canadians that came second in the Free Skating with 122.53 points and second overall with 188.65 points, winning their first medal at the World Junior Synchronized Championships.

Team Nexxice (CAN) competes during the ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships in Angers (FRA) @ISU

Skyliners Juniors ranked second in the Short Program at 69.40 points, just a little over a point behind the overnight leaders Les Supremes. The 2022 World Junior silver medalists impressed with high speed and interesting connecting moves in their Free Skating to “Legendary”, “Live Like Legends” and “The Prevail”. However, they lost precious points as the first Intersection and the Travelling Element were rated a level three and they got one deduction for a fall in the No Hold Element. The team ranked third in the Free Skating with 117.23 points and third overall with a total of 186.63 points. The Americans collected their fourth medal in the event.

Team Skyliners Junior (USA) competes during the ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships in Angers (FRA) @ISU

The Dream Edges Junior (FIN) pulled up from fifth to fourth place at 177.18 points. Les Supremes Junior (CAN) won the Short Program to “Carmen” with a seasons best of 70.92 points, but faltered in the Free Skating, losing a lot of points with five falls in the Intersections. They dropped to fifth at 173.30 points. The Lexettes Junior (USA) rounded up the top six (162.52 points).

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 ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships were originally held biennially since 2013 and are held annually since 2017. France hosts the event for the first time. The Championships were allocated to France in 2021 but had to be cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

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 Junior Synchronized Skating Championships is as follows:

Friday, March 10:                    Short Program
Saturday, March 11:                Free Skating

For full entries and results, please see the ISU event page. Follow the event on social media using the hashtag: #SynchroSkating and #FigureSkating.

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