Wednesday, March 31, 2010

“Figure skating: JSF says difficult jumps should earn ... - Big Hollywood” plus 3 more

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“Figure skating: JSF says difficult jumps should earn ... - Big Hollywood” plus 3 more

Figure skating: JSF says difficult jumps should earn ... - Big Hollywood

Posted: 31 Mar 2010 07:32 AM PDT

TOKYO, March 31 (AP) - (Kyodo)—The Japan Skating Federation decided Wednesday to ask the International Skating Union to award bonus points for difficult jumps such as triple axels and quad flips when it meets for its general assembly in June.

Under ISU current rules, a bonus of two points is given to a skater who comes up with elements other competitors have not succeeded in performing.

JSF figure skating official Nobuhiko Yoshioka says he believes skaters such as newly crowned world champion Mao Asada should be awarded extra points for landing a triple axel because of the level of difficulty of the jump.

"The rules ought to be changed to provide an incentive for skaters who attempt something that is technically very difficult," said Yoshioka.

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Confident Takahashi flies to world figure skating title - Reuters

Posted: 25 Mar 2010 03:53 PM PDT

TURIN, Italy (Reuters) - Japan's Daisuke Takahashi produced a captivating free program to become the first Asian man to strike gold at the world figure skating championships on Thursday.

Sports

The Vancouver Games bronze medalist, who led after Wednesday's short program, took full advantage of Olympic champion Evan Lysacek and Yevgeny Plushenko skipping the event.

Takahashi, 24, started his routine with a quadruple flip and did not look back having fully recovered from knee ligament damage which destroyed his 2008-09 season.

"I really felt the fans supporting me," he told the crowd before dwelling on his eighth place at the 2006 Turin Games here.

"I was able to perform my best, four years ago in Turin I had a difficult time but today I did my best."

He triumphed at the world championships, with an overall score of 257.70, only a month after becoming Japan's first Olympic men's figure skating medalist and he will now target a repeat in next year's worlds in Tokyo having put off retirement.

Canada's Patrick Chan, gyrating to the music from Phantom of the Opera, finished second overall for the second straight year with France's Brian Joubert, the only one of the top three to produce a quad on Wednesday, taking bronze after a tumble.

A debate has raged since Vancouver over whether skaters should be more handsomely rewarded for the most difficult jump.

Michal Brezina of the Czech Republic shone but ended up fourth amid a cacophony of boos from a favorable crowd.

FLAMENCO FLAIR

Olympic champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir earlier flashed some Flamenco flair to strengthen their grip on the ice dance competition as they seek a first world gold.

The Canadian duo, who topped the compulsory dance on Tuesday, maintained their lead by again finishing first and setting a season's best with an original dance filled with complicated lifts and Spanish hand claps.

With Friday's free dance left, Virtue and Moir have 114.40 points overall ahead of Meryl Davis and Charlie White in second.

The Americans, who took silver at the Vancouver Games last month, reached a combined 112.54 with their Indian folk routine.

"It would be amazing to be on the top of the podium," Davis told Reuters. "There's no doubt that there is more pressure during the Games, which take place every four years. The world championships are a bit more familiar territory for us."

Italy's Federica Faiella and Massimo Scali, considering retirement after the worlds, stayed in third.

Turin's packed Palavela arena was spellbound by an array of imaginative folk dances, including Scots dressed in tartan skating to bagpipes and Australians dancing to a didgeridoo.

The women's event starts on Friday with Olympic and world champion Kim Yuna of South Korea the favorite.

(Additional reporting by Antonella Ciancio; Editing by Sonia Oxley and Pritha Sarkar; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Photos: World figure skating championships on Wednesday - Vancouver Sun

Posted: 23 Mar 2010 04:53 PM PDT

Asada topples Kim to reclaim figure skating world title - Bangkok Post

Posted: 27 Mar 2010 03:36 PM PDT

Japanese teenager Mao Asada toppled Olympic champion Yu-Na Kim in a triumphant season finale which saw her claim her second world title at the world figure skating championships here on Saturday.

Japan's Mao Asada performs during the Ladies' Free Skating competition at the World Figure Skating Championships at the Palavela ice-rink in Turin. Asada toppled Olympic champion Yu-Na Kim in a triumphant season finale which saw her claim her second world title at the world figure skating championships.

Olympic runner-up Asada, 19, added to the world title she won in 2008, as Japan claimed a double at the worlds after Daisuke Takahashi won their first men's gold earlier in the week.

It was the first defeat for Kim since the Grand Prix Final in December 2008 when Asada beat her.

Favourite Kim had struggled in seventh after a disastrous short programme and could not follow her Olympic exploits in the free skate as she finished nearly 38 points off the world record total she achieved in Vancouver.

But despite falling on a triple salchow she nevertheless seized silver with the bronze going to Finland's Laura Lepisto, as American Mirai Nagasu, who had led the short programme, dropped down to seventh place.

As Kim struggled, the feisty Asada, who had placed second in the short programme, was determined to seize her chance.

Skating in the last group to Rachmaninov's "Bells of Moscow" she achieved 197.58 points for the free skate and 129.50 overall, to beat her long-time rival by 6.80 points.

It was a golden end to a rollarcoaster season for the Japanese skater who finished second to Kim in the season-opening Grand Prix in Paris and a lowly fifth in the next event in Moscow, before rebounding by claiming the Japanese national title and the Olympic silver.

It is the sixth time that a Japanese woman has stood on top of the podium at the worlds.

Skating in the earlier group, the 19-year-old Kim, known to her fans as 'Queen Yu-Na,' needed something exceptional to defend her title.

But she was far from her best and after her fall she did not attempt the final double axel jump in her performance to Gershwin's "Concerto in F".

She nevertheless scored the best marks in the free skate with 130.49 for 190.78 overall.

In Vancouver Kim scored 228.56 overall and 150.06 in the free skate.

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Tuesday, March 30, 2010

“Asada beats Kim at World Figure skating championship - Meri News” plus 3 more

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“Asada beats Kim at World Figure skating championship - Meri News” plus 3 more

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Asada beats Kim at World Figure skating championship - Meri News

Posted: 27 Mar 2010 12:45 PM PDT

AT THE World Figure skating championship in Turin, Italy, Mao Asada got her second figure skating title, beating Olympic silver medalist Kim Yu-na on Saturday. The win sees Kim Yu-na lose her first competition, after dominating for two seasons.

Figure skating watchers believe that this win by Asada, has caused an upswing in the rivalry between the two renowned figure skaters.

Asada has won the figure skating championship title this year, after her win in 2008. Last year, the title had gone to Kim Yu-na, who had wrested it from Asada. She has won this year's title by earning 197.58 points, seven more than the South Korean skater Kim Yu-na.

Mao Asada said,"I didn't think I would be sitting here. I had to continue and challenge and push myself. And I guess that is what led to today's results. I am just really happy Japan was able to get the gold in both the women's and the men's competition"

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Figure skating: Asada delighted to round off season ... - Big Hollywood

Posted: 30 Mar 2010 03:44 AM PDT

TOKYO, March 30 (AP) - (Kyodo)—Mao Asada on Tuesday spoke of her joy at rounding off the season with the gold medal after arriving home from a triumphant performance at the world figure skating championships in Turin.

Speaking at a Tokyo press conference alongside men's champion Daisuke Takahashi, Vancouver Olympic runner-up Asada said, "I was able to win the gold medal in the last event of the season with my best performance. I am so happy."

Asada opened a new chapter in her rivalry with Vancouver champion Kim Yu Na when she beat the South Korean starlet by almost seven points to win the gold in Italy on Saturday.

Asada's victory completed a golden double for Japan after Takahashi won the men's event in the absence of heavyweights Evgeni Plushenko and Evan Lysacek.

"I am proud to be the first Japanese men's world gold medalist," said Takahashi, who won bronze in Vancouver. "I thought we would have a chance to both win gold and told Mao how great I thought it was."

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Figure skating: Canadians Virtue-Moir win original ... - Honolulu Advertiser

Posted: 25 Mar 2010 12:25 PM PDT

TURIN, Italy — Olympic gold medalists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada won the original dance at the World Figure Skating Championships on Thursday with a sultry, saucy flamenco, extending their lead over Vancouver runners-up Meryl Davis and Charlie White.

Virtue and Moir earned a season-best 70.27 points — almost two points higher than their Vancouver score.

"We didn't think we had quite the magic we had at the Olympic Games, but we were pleased with the performance," Moir said.

They have 114.40 points heading into Friday's free dance. Davis and White, two-time U.S. champions who train with Virtue and Moir, have 112.54 points after scoring a season-best 69.29 for their colorful Bollywood-on-ice OD.

The men's free skate is later Thursday.

Virtue said their Turin performance was stronger than the one in Vancouver, but there was no shortage of emotion as they performed fiery step sequences. The pair trained with flamenco dancers to infuse the piece with authenticity.

"A lot of that passion that they brought to us now comes from within," Virtue said.

The Canadians and Americans are both hungry for a world title — something neither has achieved — after their Olympic success. Though Virtue and Moir lead Davis and White by almost two points, that can be made up in Friday's free dance.

"We feel we used the Olympic Games to help us grow as skaters and performers, and I think it helped us out there," White said.

In Turin, the job of hometown favorites falls to Federica Faiella and Massimo Scali of Italy, who remained third in the overall standings by finishing third in the original dance. They have 100.01 total points.

The Italian crowd cheered wildly for Faiella and Scali's original dance, which combined traditional dances from Naples and Calabria. Their only flaw was an error on their twizzles — spinning turns — that cost them in both difficulty and execution.

"It's hard to dance with a crowd screaming like a soccer game, but we are very happy," Scali said.

Americans Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates were in 11th place after skating their country-western dance, with a total of 85.40 points. The couple, who finished 11th in Vancouver, need to maintain or improve their placing in the final free dance to secure three U.S. spots at next year's worlds.

"This is probably my favorite program to compete and the season, too, has been fantastic," Samuelson said.

The top two American couples must finish with a combined placement of 13 — second and 11th, for example — and Samuelson and Bates are being counted on after reigning world silver medalists Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto decided not to compete.

The third American dance couple, Kimberly Navarro and Brent Bommentre, was in 13th with a Brazilian folk dance.

"We were motivated, we trained hard and we skated well today," Bommentre said. "Our only goal is to skate well and to enjoy. Well, maybe tomorrow we can do 300 points and win the gold medal!"

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Figure Skating: Virtue, Moir add world gold to Olympic title - Channel NewsAsia

Posted: 26 Mar 2010 05:18 PM PDT

Figure Skating: Virtue, Moir add world gold to Olympic title
Posted: 27 March 2010 0636 hrs


TURIN, Italy : Canadian ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir added the world title to their Olympic gold at the world figure skating championships here on Friday.

The couple edged Meryl Davis and Charlie White by just 1.43 points to take the title ahead of their US rivals, just as they did in Vancouver last month.

Italy's Federica Faiella and Massimo Scali claimed bronze, a distant third behind the two leading couples after the free dance final at the Palavela.

"We're really excited to have those two titles, this is big for us. It motivates us for bigger and better things in the future," Moir told Eurosport.

"This has always been in our mind, these two competitions were our main goals.

"Last year was difficult with Tessa's (shin) injury but we just peaked at the right time. It's just fortunate, but we worked very hard for this."

They become the first ice dancers since Russia's Oksana Grishuk and Yevgeny Platov in 1994 to hold the Olympic and world titles in the one season.

Despite an error by Moir on one of their twizzles in their programme to the haunting music of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 5, the Canadians held their advantage from the first two rounds - the compulsory and original dance - to take their first world title.

They scored 110.03 for the free dance and 224.43 overall.

Olympic runners-up Davis, 23, and White, 22, showed incredible speed with intricate footwork and step sequences to Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera to win the free dance with a career best 110.49 and overall 223.03.

The top two couples, who are both trained by former Soviet ice dancers Marina Zueva and Igor Shpilband, were in a class of their own, finishing over 26 points ahead of their rivals.

Faiella and Scali scored 97.84 for their moving routine to Nino Rota's The Emigrants, giving them 197.85 overall, and their first world podium at their ninth attempt.

Virtue, 20, and Moir, 22, became the first Canadian ice dancers to win the ISU world junior championships in 2006, and in Vancouver the first North Americans to win the Olympic title.

But the road to Olympic and world gold has been rocky for the young couple.

They won silver at 2008 worlds, and were boosted by a bronze last year after missing the entire Grand Prix session because of a shin injury Virtue suffered due to overtraining.

They become the second Canadians to win the world title after Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz in 2003.

- AFP /ls

 

Monday, March 29, 2010

“BMO Congratulates Canada’s World Figure Skating ... - pressreleasepoint.com” plus 2 more

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“BMO Congratulates Canada’s World Figure Skating ... - pressreleasepoint.com” plus 2 more

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BMO Congratulates Canada’s World Figure Skating ... - pressreleasepoint.com

Posted: 29 Mar 2010 03:20 PM PDT

TORONTO, March 29, 2010– BMO, the Official Bank of Skating, today congratulated Tessa Virtue, Scott Moir and Patrick Chan after their medal-winning performances at the 2010 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Torino, Italy. Virtue and Moir followed up their gold medal in Vancouver by winning the Ice Dance competition, and Chan won a silver medal in the Men's competition.

"We've been a proud supporter of Canadian figure skating since 1997, as a major sponsor of the Canadian National Figure Skating Team and of Skate Canada," said Sandy Bourne, Vice-President, Advertising, Sponsorship/Events and Merchandising, BMO Financial Group. "To see this national team, filled with so many skaters that we have known and supported for years, accomplish so much – both in Vancouver and Torino – is truly thrilling. We are so happy to have played a small part in their success.

"BMO is pleased to congratulate Tessa, Scott, Patrick and all the rest of the national team who did their country proud in Italy. We can't wait to see our skaters take on the world again when the new season starts in the Fall!"

Since 1997, BMO Financial Group has been proud to bring the best of Canadian figure skating to fans across the country. BMO is a major sponsor of the Canadian National Figure Skating Team and of Skate Canada, the governing body of Canadian figure skating that oversees more than 1,450 clubs and nearly 200,000 members. In addition to title sponsorship of the BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships, BMO Financial Group is a strong supporter of CanSkate, Skate Canada's learn to skate program.

- 30 -

For News Media Enquiries:
Peter Scott, Toronto, (416) 867-3996
Ronald Monet, Montreal, (514) 877-1873

BMO Congratulates Canada's World Figure Skating ... - CNW Group

Posted: 29 Mar 2010 11:59 AM PDT

TORONTO, March 29 /CNW/ - BMO, the Official Bank of Skating, today congratulated Tessa Virtue, Scott Moir and Patrick Chan after their medal-winning performances at the 2010 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Torino, Italy. Virtue and Moir followed up their gold medal in Vancouver by winning the Ice Dance competition, and Chan won a silver medal in the Men's competition.

"We've been a proud supporter of Canadian figure skating since 1997, as a major sponsor of the Canadian National Figure Skating Team and of Skate Canada," said Sandy Bourne, Vice-President, Advertising, Sponsorship/Events and Merchandising, BMO Financial Group. "To see this national team, filled with so many skaters that we have known and supported for years, accomplish so much - both in Vancouver and Torino - is truly thrilling. We are so happy to have played a small part in their success.

"BMO is pleased to congratulate Tessa, Scott, Patrick and all the rest of the national team who did their country proud in Italy. We can't wait to see our skaters take on the world again when the new season starts in the Fall!"

Since 1997, BMO Financial Group has been proud to bring the best of Canadian figure skating to fans across the country. BMO is a major sponsor of the Canadian National Figure Skating Team and of Skate Canada, the governing body of Canadian figure skating that oversees more than 1,450 clubs and nearly 200,000 members. In addition to title sponsorship of the BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships, BMO Financial Group is a strong supporter of CanSkate, Skate Canada's learn to skate program.

For further information: For News Media Enquiries: Peter Scott, Toronto, PeterE.Scott@bmo.com, (416) 867-3996; Ronald Monet, Montreal, ronald.monet@bmo.com, (514) 877-1873; Internet: www.bmo.com

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Northwoods Figure Skating Club presents “On the Edge ... - Spooner Advocate

Posted: 29 Mar 2010 03:48 PM PDT

Spooner Advocate * PO Box 338, Spooner, WI 54801
Phone (715) 635-2181 * Fax (715) 635-2186
For general support/information on this site please visit: www.SpoonerAdvocate.com/about_us

For technical support on this site please email: ACMiSupport@amconmedia.com

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Sunday, March 28, 2010

“Asia and North America dominate World Figure Skating ... - Examiner” plus 3 more

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“Asia and North America dominate World Figure Skating ... - Examiner” plus 3 more

Asia and North America dominate World Figure Skating ... - Examiner

Posted: 28 Mar 2010 08:00 PM PDT

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For the first time in the history of the World Figure Skating Championships, no European country won a title in any of the four disciplines as three of the gold medals went to Asian countries and the fourth went to Canada. This feat came close seven years ago in Washington, D.C., when Evgeni Plushenko was the only European skater to win the gold. And while the United States and Canada have been figure skating powerhouses for over half a century, the past two decades have seen the emergence of Asian countries into the forefront, led by skaters from Japan and China. 

Related: Photos from the exhibition gala

In total, Asian and North American countries took seven of the 12 medals, with Europe taking the rest. And similar to the Vancouver Olympics, no country won more than two medals, with skaters from ten different countries taking home hardware from Torino. Seven of the 12 medalists from Vancouver came to Torino, and all seven ended up with medals.

ICE DANCE
The compulsory dance kicked off the competition, with Olympic champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir from Canada taking the lead right away over Olympic silver medalists Meryl Davis and Charlie White from the United States. The fight for the gold in dance was close all the way through – the Canadians took both the compulsory dance and the original dance by just about a point, and the Americans won the free dance by half a point. In the end, Virtue and Moir edged out Davis and White for the gold, with home crowd favorites Federica Faiella and Massimo Scali taking the bronze, their first World medal.

PAIRS
In the pairs' event, it was Olympic silver medalists Qing Pang and Jian Tong who won their second World title, dethroning reigning World champions Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy, who took the silver after an eventful season. Russia's Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov earned their second consecutive bronze medal on the heels of a disappointing Olympic free skate that took them out of the medals.

MEN
The sole Olympic men's medalist to come to Torino, Japan's Daisuke Takahashi, showed his mettle with a quad flip attempt in the free skate. Though the flip was downgraded, he was still heads above the rest, adding his first World title to his Olympic bronze. Canada's Patrick Chan and France's Brian Joubert repeated their silver and bronze medal efforts from last year. For Joubert, his bronze was a much needed confidence boost after his disastrous 16th-place finish in Vancouver.

LADIES
The most unexpected results came in the ladies' competition, in which inconsistency was the name of the game. Olympic silver medalist Mao Asada bested rival and Olympic champion Yu-Na Kim to win her second World title. Though Asada was only credited for one of her three triple axels, Kim had the tougher time of the two, finishing seventh in the short program with a number of fluke errors. Laura Lepisto took advantage of everyone's mistakes and took the bronze, the first World medal for both her and her home country.

The 2011 World Figure Skating Championships will take place next March in Tokyo, Japan. Below are the countries that qualified two or more skaters to next year's Worlds based on last week's results.

Countries qualifying two or more spots to the 2011 Worlds
LADIES – Japan (3), Canada, Finland, Italy, Russia, Sweden, United States (2 each)
MEN – Canada, Japan, United States (3 each), Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Sweden (2 each)
PAIRS – China, Russia (3 each), Canada, Germany, United States (2 each)
DANCE – Canada, United States (3 each), France, Great Britain Hungary, Israel, Italy, Russia (2 each)

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Takahashi, Chan, and Joubert Find Redemption at Skating ... - Associated Content

Posted: 28 Mar 2010 06:27 PM PDT

Americans Jeremy Abbott and Adam Rippon Place 5th and 6th

The World Figure Skating Championships in an Olympic year can be a yawn. Taking place just a month after the Olympics, Worlds are often skipped by many of the top competitors. With superstar Evgeni Plushenko of Russia withdrawing late due to injury and Olympic champion Evan Lysacek busy on Dancing with the Stars, the men's singles competition at the world championships could have been dull. Instead, it provided an opportunity for redemption for three highly talented men—Japan's Daisuke Takahashi, Patrick Chan of Canada, and Brian Joubert of France.

Takahashi Rocks Out at Worlds and Takes Gold

Daisuke Takahashi, 24, is a veteran Japanese skater with long, floppy hair and an extremely fun, crowd-pleasing style. Plagued by injuries, some serious, he had ACL and meniscus surgery on his right knee, missing practically an entire season of competition last year. This season he got off to a slow start, but improved. His redemption actually began at the Olympics in Vancouver, where he took the bronze medal and became the first Japanese man in history to receive an Olympic figure skating medal. His victory at 2010 Worlds parallels that of Japan's Mao Asada, who won the women's title.

With Plushenko and Lysacek not skating, Takahashi had an excellent chance to take the top medal, and indeed he did. He skated last in the free skate and was the only one of the top men not to fall. Although he did not need it to win, he attempted a quad flip jump at the beginning of his program, landing awkwardly on two feet but not falling or even pitching forward. No one has yet landed a quad flip in competition, so if it had been successful it would have been history-making. After that, it was smooth sailing through elaborate choreography and great jumping. As always, he skated with his whole body and tremendous musicality and expression. His lively, playful music was the theme from the 1954 Fellini film "La Strada" and obviously very popular with the Italian audience. He maintained his speed and energy right to the end.

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New Program Teaches Teen Girls Ice Skating - WJZ

Posted: 28 Mar 2010 08:43 PM PDT

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New Program Teaches Teen Girls Ice Skating

BALTIMORE (WJZ) ― It may be spring, but a new area program is using ice to promote good health among young girls.  Tim Williams has more on how figure skating in the city is teaching area middle schoolers about life.

They could be the next generation of Olympians.

"You get to skate, you get to do different tricks and you get to be in big shows," said figure skating student Nyla Harding.

But for now, Natalie Estelle's group of young ladies are learning life lessons via the ice.

"I learn things that I never knew," said figure skating student Bria Randolph.

It's the first year for the program called Figure Skating in the City.  It's made possible through Baltimore's Department of Recs and Parks.

"I noticed when I was competing nationally and locally that there wasn't a lot of inner city minority girls involved in the sport, so I wanted to kind of bring people that couldn't necessarily afford skating lessons," Estelle said.  "I wanted them to have the opportunities that I had."

The program uses figure skating to help build self confidence, strengthen academics and promote physical well-being.  It focuses on under-served communities.

There are currently 15 young girls enrolled.

Brandy Randolph knows what she likes.

"The feeling on the ice, the tricks, the spins, the jumps.  Friends," she said.

The Department of Health and Human Services cites one in six minority girls is in danger of obesity.  Figure Skating in the City hopes to stop that trend cold in its tracks.

"I think it's awesome.  It's better than we do at school," Bria Randolph said.

The program only costs $15 a girl.  For more information, click here or call 410-905-2058.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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Spokane breaks attendance records as Rachael Flatt wins ... - Examiner

Posted: 23 Mar 2010 08:06 PM PDT

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Rachael Flatt won the 2010 U.S. Women's Figure Skating Championship in Spokane. Rachael Flatt surprised everyone as attendance surged, and Spokane came out in style to celebrate all of the women at the 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. This is the second time that Spokane has hosted the U.S. Figure Skating Championships (first time was in 2007) and it's time to call this one a huge success.

As reported by KHQ in Spokane, 155,496 fans showed up to watch the events of the 2010 U.S Figure Skating Championships. This surpasses the estimated 154,000 that showed up in 2007, and all of them saw a great finish to the women's competition on Saturday. With Marai Nagasu leading after the short program, and Sasha Cohen in second place, it seemed like those two women would end up representing the women's team at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

When Rachael Flatt took to the ice on Saturday night, she had already knew that she needed to put up some great numbers in the long program and she did not disappoint. In fact, when the final scores were tallied, it looks on paper like Rachael Flatt simply blew the doors off the Spokane Arena. Watching it live, it seemed like Mirai Nagasu did everything necessary to win the 2010 U.S. Women's Figure Skating Championships, but she finished almost 12 points back.

Rachael Flatt won the 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships with a score of 200.11, followed by Mirai Nagasu in second place with a 188.78 score, and then Ashley Wagner in third with a score of 184.72. Sasha Cohen ended up in fourth place after falling, but still had a great score of 174.28 to show in her first major competition in a while.

Rachael Flatt now seems destined to do well at the 2010 Winter Olympics, with a second skater to join her from the U.S. team. The United States only has two spots in the event this year though, so it's going to be a tough choice for the committee. Spokane, Washington turned out in droves to once again see a successful women's event come off without a hitch.

 

2010 Women's Recap

.

2010 Men's Recap

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Saturday, March 27, 2010

“Figure Skating World Championships Results - ESPN.com” plus 3 more

0 comments Posted by giant at 11:00 PM

“Figure Skating World Championships Results - ESPN.com” plus 3 more

Figure Skating World Championships Results - ESPN.com

Posted: 27 Mar 2010 10:43 AM PDT

Saturday

At Turin, Italy

Women

Final Ranking

1. Mao Asada, Japan, 197.58 points.

2. Kim Yu-na, South Korea, 190.79.

3. Laura Lepisto, Finland, 178.62.

4. Miki Ando, Japan, 177.82.

5. Cynthia Phaneuf, Canada, 177.54.

6. Carolina Kostner, Italy, 177.31.

7. Mirai Nagasu, United States, 175.48.

8. Ksenia Makarova, Russia, 169.64.

9. Rachael Flatt, United States, 167.44.

10. Viktoria Helgesson, Sweden, 161.79.

11. Akiko Suzuki, Japan, 160.04.

12. Sarah Heckin, Germany, 153.94.

13. Alena Leonova, Russia, 152.86.

14. Jenna McCorkell, Britain, 150.90.

15. Julia Sebestyen, Hungary, 147.66.

16. Liu Yan, China, 141.29.

17. Cheltzie Lee, Australia, 137.78.

18. Elene Gedevanishvili, Georgia, 137.33.

19. Kiira Korpi, Finland, 134.49.

20. Sonia Lafuente, Spain, 133.31.

21. Elena Glebova, Estonia, 132.85.

22. Kwak Min-jung, South Korea, 120.47.

23. Anastasia Gimazetdinova, Uzbekistan, 113.89.

24. Manouk Gijsman, Netherlands, 111.94.


Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index

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Asada topples Queen Kim to reclaim world figure skating ... - YAHOO!

Posted: 27 Mar 2010 12:09 PM PDT

TURIN (AFP) – Japanese teenager Mao Asada toppled Olympic champion Kim Yu-Na to make up in some way for her Vancouver disappointment by claiming a second world title at the world championships here on Saturday.

Olympic runner-up Asada, 19, added to the world title she won in Gothenburg in 2008, as Japan claimed a double on the final day of worlds after Daisuke Takahashi won their first men's gold earlier in the week.

It was the first defeat for Kim since the Grand Prix Final in December 2008 when Asada also beat her.

The favourite had struggled in seventh after a disastrous short programme and could not follow her Olympic exploits in the free skate as she fell during her routine to finish nearly 38 points off the world record total she achieved in Vancouver.

As Kim struggled, the feisty Asada, who had placed second in the short programme, was determined to seize her chance.

Skating to Rachmaninov's "Bells of Moscow" she gave an error-free performance, which included the triple axel which she is the only woman to land in competition, to achieve 129.50 points for the free skate and 197.58 overall.

She finished 6.80 points ahead of her long-time rival.

"I didn't think I would be sitting here," admitted Asada, who has had a mixed season before rebounding by claiming a fourth Japanese national title and the Olympic silver.

"I had to continue to challenge myself and push myself to try the triple Axel. The spirit of challenge has helped me to get where I was today.

"I'm very happy because I've done perfectly in both long and short programme. I'm satisfied with this competition and it is a relief after the Olympic Games."

She added: "I wanted to follow Takahashi's success. I think that Europe is a lucky place for me. Next year the World Championships are in Japan and I think this is a good start to the new season."

Skating in the earlier group, the 19-year-old Kim, known to her fans as 'Queen Yu-Na,' needed something exceptional to defend her title.

But she was far from her majestic best and after her fall on the triple salchow she did not attempt the final double axel jump in her performance to Gershwin's "Concerto in F".

She nevertheless scored the best marks in the free skate with 130.49 for 190.78 overall.

In Vancouver Kim scored 228.56 overall and 150.06 in the free skate.

"These championships were mentally the most difficult for me," said Kim as she left the ice at the Palavela, struggling to manage a smile.

"For the moment I'm just happy to have finished the season. This morning practice didn't go well, I was worried, I couldn't concentrate. I even thought of pulling out."

Kim, who completed her world medal collection after already holding two bronze, refused to be drawn on her future plans amid reports she was planning to retire.

"The Olympic Games were the biggest goal in my life. After winning the gold medal I thought there was nothing more, but I was happy to come to Turin and I wanted to give my best.

"It was a mental and physical struggle after the Olympic Games. At the Olympics my condition was at its peak, but I felt I can do one more competition.

"I'm going to go to Korea to spend time with my family and have fun and I'll decide afterwards," she said."

Laura Lepisto giving Finland their first world medal with bronze, as American Mirai Nagasu, who had led the short programme, finished seventh.

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Figure skating: Canadians Virtue-Moir win original ... - Honolulu Advertiser

Posted: 25 Mar 2010 12:25 PM PDT

TURIN, Italy — Olympic gold medalists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada won the original dance at the World Figure Skating Championships on Thursday with a sultry, saucy flamenco, extending their lead over Vancouver runners-up Meryl Davis and Charlie White.

Virtue and Moir earned a season-best 70.27 points — almost two points higher than their Vancouver score.

"We didn't think we had quite the magic we had at the Olympic Games, but we were pleased with the performance," Moir said.

They have 114.40 points heading into Friday's free dance. Davis and White, two-time U.S. champions who train with Virtue and Moir, have 112.54 points after scoring a season-best 69.29 for their colorful Bollywood-on-ice OD.

The men's free skate is later Thursday.

Virtue said their Turin performance was stronger than the one in Vancouver, but there was no shortage of emotion as they performed fiery step sequences. The pair trained with flamenco dancers to infuse the piece with authenticity.

"A lot of that passion that they brought to us now comes from within," Virtue said.

The Canadians and Americans are both hungry for a world title — something neither has achieved — after their Olympic success. Though Virtue and Moir lead Davis and White by almost two points, that can be made up in Friday's free dance.

"We feel we used the Olympic Games to help us grow as skaters and performers, and I think it helped us out there," White said.

In Turin, the job of hometown favorites falls to Federica Faiella and Massimo Scali of Italy, who remained third in the overall standings by finishing third in the original dance. They have 100.01 total points.

The Italian crowd cheered wildly for Faiella and Scali's original dance, which combined traditional dances from Naples and Calabria. Their only flaw was an error on their twizzles — spinning turns — that cost them in both difficulty and execution.

"It's hard to dance with a crowd screaming like a soccer game, but we are very happy," Scali said.

Americans Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates were in 11th place after skating their country-western dance, with a total of 85.40 points. The couple, who finished 11th in Vancouver, need to maintain or improve their placing in the final free dance to secure three U.S. spots at next year's worlds.

"This is probably my favorite program to compete and the season, too, has been fantastic," Samuelson said.

The top two American couples must finish with a combined placement of 13 — second and 11th, for example — and Samuelson and Bates are being counted on after reigning world silver medalists Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto decided not to compete.

The third American dance couple, Kimberly Navarro and Brent Bommentre, was in 13th with a Brazilian folk dance.

"We were motivated, we trained hard and we skated well today," Bommentre said. "Our only goal is to skate well and to enjoy. Well, maybe tomorrow we can do 300 points and win the gold medal!"

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Takahashi wins men's title - Post-Bulletin

Posted: 26 Mar 2010 06:05 AM PDT

Associated Press
TURIN, Italy — Evan Lysacek, the men's figure skating gold medalist at the Vancouver Games, did not try to defend his title at the world championship this week He had other plans. While Japan's Daisuke Takahashi became world champion on Thursday, clinching the title with a dazzling long program, Lysacek continued to soak up his Olympic glory.

He was practicing his ballroom dancing skills for his role on the ABC television show "Dancing With the Stars." He was preparing to headline the Stars on Ice tour. And on Friday, he will be celebrating in Naperville, Ill., his hometown, during what has been called Evan Lysacek day.

Lysacek, though, is not alone in playing hooky from this world championship, which is being held without some of the Vancouver Games' biggest stars. In an Olympic year, that is nothing new.

In all, five of the 12 medalists — including two gold medalists — have skipped the worlds, which will conclude Saturday with the women's final.

''There's always been that question, why hold a world championships in an Olympic year because it is just not as satisfying as it usually is?" Scott Hamilton, the 1984 Olympic champion, said. "Some of the top skaters don't go. After the Olympic Games, people are fried and exhausted — not only the athletes, but also the spectators. I understand why the worlds have become an anticlimax."

Still, some superstar skaters like Kim Yu-na of South Korea are scheduled to compete. Kim, the Olympic gold medalist who was nearly flawless in Vancouver, will attempt to defend her world title and build on her reputation as one of the most dominant skaters in history.

Her longtime rival and the silver medalist in Vancouver, Mao Asada of Japan, will also be there. But the Olympic bronze medalist, Joannie Rochette, whose mother died of a heart attack during the Games, is taking a break from competition.

On Thursday, Canada's Patrick Chan won the men's silver. France's Brian Joubert won the bronze. Jeremy Abbott, the two-time U.S. national champion, was fifth. He was ninth at the Olympics.

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Friday, March 26, 2010

“Figure Skating World Championships Results - ESPN.com” plus 3 more

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“Figure Skating World Championships Results - ESPN.com” plus 3 more

Figure Skating World Championships Results - ESPN.com

Posted: 26 Mar 2010 06:44 PM PDT

TURIN, Italy -- Results Friday from the figure skating world championships:

Ladies

Short Program

1. Mirai Nagasu, United States, 70.40.

2. Mao Asada, Japan, 68.08.

3. Laura Lepisto, Finland, 64.30.

4. Carolina Kostner, Italy, 62.20.

5. Ksenia Makarova, Russia, 62.06.

6. Rachael Flatt, United States, 60.88.

7. Kim Yu-na, South Korea, 60.30.

8. Cynthia Phaneuf, Canada, 59.50.

9. Viktoria Helgesson, Sweden, 56.32.

10. Julia Sebestyen, Hungary, 56.10.

11. Miki Ando, Japan, 55.78.

12. Elene Gedevanishvili, Georgia, 55.26.

13. Sarah Hecken, Germany, 55.20.

14. Alena Leonova, Russia, 54.36.

15. Jenna McCorkell, Britain, 52.12.

16. Kiira Korpi, Finland, 51.72.

17. Cheltzie Lee, Australia, 51.36.

18. Liu Yan, China, 49.96.

19. Anastasia Gimazetdinova, Uzbekistan, 49.10.

20. Akiko Suzuki, Japan, 48.36.

21. Sonia Lafuente, Spain, 47.72.

22. Elena Glebova, Estonia, 47.72.

23. Kwak Min-jung, South Korea, 47.46.

24. Manouk Gijsman, Netherlands, 47.44.

Ice Dance

Free Dance

1. Meryl Davis and Charlie White, United States, 110.49.

2. Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, Canada, 110.03 53.10.

3. Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat, France, 98.09.

4. Federica Faiella and Massimo Scali, Italy, 97.84.

5. Sinead and John Kerr, Britain, 93.32.

6. Alexandra Zaretsky and Roman Zaretsky, Israel, 91.34.

7. Vanessa Crone and Paul Poirier, Canada, 91.22.

8. Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev, Russia, 89.76.

9. Nora Hoffman and Maxim Zavozin, Hungary, 83.52.

10. Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates, United States, 83.37.

11. Ekaterina Rubleva and Ivan Shefer, Russia, 81.90.

12. Pernelle Carron and Lloyd Jones, France, 80.79.

13. Cathy Reed and Chris Reed, Japan, 79.74.

14. Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte, Italy, 79.07.

15. Kimberly Navaro and Brent Bommentre, United States, 77.99.

16. Caitlin Malloy and Kristjan Rand, Estonia, 77.00.

17. Lucie Mysliveckova and Matej Novak, Czech Republic, 74.91.

18. Kira Geil and Dmitri Matsjuk, Austria, 70.92.

19. Yu Xiaoyang and Wang Chen, China, 69.79.

Ice Dance

Overall

1. Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, Canada, 224.43.

2. Meryl Davis and Charlie White, United States, 223.03.

3. Federica Faiella and Massimo Scali, Italy, 197.85.

4. Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat, France, 194.39.

5. Sinead and John Kerr, Britain, 189.11.

6. Alexandra Zaretsky and Roman Zaretsky, Israel, 181.26.

7. Vanessa Crone and Paul Poirier, Canada, 180.30.

8. Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev, Russia, 177.23.

9. Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates, United States, 168.77.

10. Nora Hoffman and Maxim Zavozin, Hungary, 166.90.

11. Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte, Italy, 164.52.

12. Pernelle Carron and Lloyd Jones, France, 161.86.

13. Ekaterina Rubleva and Ivan Shefer, Russia, 161.20.

14. Kimberly Navaro and Brent Bommentre, United States, 159.68.

15. Cathy and Chris Reed, Japan, 154.93.

16. Lucie Mysliveckova and Matej Novak, Czech Republic, 147.93.

17. Caitlin Malloy and Kristjan Rand, Estonia, 147.39.

18. Yu Xiaoyang and Wang Chen, China, 142.80.

19. Kira Geil and Dmitri Matsjuk, Austria, 142.49.


Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index

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Takahashi leads figure skating worlds - France 24

Posted: 24 Mar 2010 10:25 AM PDT

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Virtue, Moir add title to Olympic gold - ESPN.com

Posted: 26 Mar 2010 03:09 PM PDT

TORINO, Italy -- While Olympic champion Kim Yu-na crumbled, American Mirai Nagasu soared.

Nagasu was in first place after a nearly flawless short program at the World Figure Skating Championships on Friday. Kim, who has lost only one competition over the last two seasons and was downright majestic in winning gold in Vancouver, was in seventh place after three major errors in an uncharacteristically sloppy performance.

Coming off the ice, Kim told reporters that her left foot was "shaking." But it was unclear if there was a medical issue, and coach Brian Orser couldn't be reached for comment.

"The first triple combination was perfect, then I felt not sure on my left foot. It was shaking. It wasn't feeling good, and I don't know why," the South Korean star said.

Nagasu scored a season-best 70.40, putting her two points ahead of Olympic silver medalist Mao Asada of Japan -- and more than 10 in front of Kim. Finland's Laura Lepisto was third. The free skate is Saturday.

"I think they will be back on their game tomorrow," the 16-year-old Nagasu said after seeing Kim and Asada skate. "I am sure they are tired after the Olympics, as I am, but I just have to concentrate on myself and do the best long program I can."

Later Friday, Olympic champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada added a world title to their gold medal, edging training partners Meryl Davis and Charlie White of the United States. Virtue and Moir finished second to Davis and White, the Vancouver silver medalists, in the free dance but had built up a large enough lead in the compulsory and original dances to win.

Virtue and Moir finished with 224.43 points, while Davis and White had 223.03 points. Italy's Federica Faiella and Massimo Scali were third.

"I'd say this is our most successful year," Virtue told the crowd. "We couldn't ask for anything more."

Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates finished ninth, ensuring the Americans will have three dance teams at next year's worlds.

Kim has been in a class of her own the last two seasons, and she capped it with her dazzling performance in Vancouver. Adored in her native South Korea, she handled the massive expectations with cool grace, setting world records for both her short and long programs. Her total score was more than 23 points better than Asada's, a massive rout.

But there's a reason many Olympic gold medalists skip the world championships, held just a month after the games end. There is bound to be a letdown after achieving the sport's greatest prize, and it's hard to get back into training.

"One week ago, before I got here, I was a little bit scared," Kim acknowledged. "But I was ready."

She didn't look like herself Friday.

She received no credit at all for a spin, underrotated a triple flip and bungled a spiral that received only a first level and was downgraded on execution to just 1.46 points. Not even her strong opening triple-triple combo could make up for that.

Her score of 60.30 points was more than 18 points behind her record-setting performance at the Vancouver Games.

"I felt very good at the warmup. My first jump, the triple-triple, was really great. And then after that I felt I was ready to do a triple flip. It was really weird. I don't know what happened," Kim said. "It's the first time I missed the elements like that."

Nagasu won the U.S. title in 2008, but then struggled with a growth spurt and ordinary teenage angst. She switched to coach Frank Carroll last spring -- she now trains alongside Olympic men's champion Evan Lysacek -- and the move has done wonders for her skill and confidence.

She was fourth at the Vancouver Games and has made it clear she wants to be the one to watch in the lead-up to the 2014 Sochi Games. This was a good start.

Before skating, she spent a few minutes at the board talking to Carroll, holding both of his hands and concentrating on his words.

"She said she was scared. I said, 'Well, you said to me you wanted to be the Olympic champion someday,'" Carroll said. "I said, 'Future Olympic champions don't get scared. They get tough.'"

Though her opening triple-triple combination was slightly underrotated, the rest of her short program was exemplary. Lysacek, not competing in Torino, was ecstatic with his training partner's success, posting a message on Twitter that said, "Wow!!!! So happy for you!"

Nagasu has been working to get the triple-triple into her short and credits Carroll for getting her there.

"I just listened to my coach," she said. "He just has a positive aura about him."

Carroll said he just reminded her that she wanted to put the triple-triple in at the Olympics and didn't.

"So what are we here for? ... Back up your words with action," Carroll said.

Asada, the 2008 world champion, trails Nagasu largely because she underrotated the triple axel in her opening combination.

"Of course, I am very disappointed about the downgrading of the axel. However, I think I was able to perform relatively well. And I think I picked up the right momentum going into tomorrow's long program," she said.


Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Takahashi wins figure skating gold for Japan - YAHOO!

Posted: 25 Mar 2010 03:17 PM PDT

Davenport buzzed up: From Beijing to Paris, world to go dark for Earth Hour (AFP)

2 minutes ago 2010-03-26T22:57:43-07:00

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