International Figure Skating

The first half of the season produced some interesting results, with twists and turns at every competition on the circuit. It was exciting to see skaters and teams rising to the challenges and capturing medals and titles for the first time, and with so many fabulous performances along the way, it was impossible in the end to choose any favorites. The Grand Prix Finals continued that trend, with the junior stars producing results that rivaled some of the seniors. It was also inspiring to me that skaters from many nations stood on the podiums in Torino, giving them a truly international feel. In this issue we have a full recap of both the junior and senior Grand Prix Finals, along with lots of photos from those competitions and flashbacks from the Grand…

When Caroline Green and Michael Parsons decided to pull up stakes last July, a whole new world of possibilities opened up for them. The American ice dancers spoke with enthusiasm about their decision to relocate to Canton, Michigan, to train with 2014 Olympic champion Charlie White, Tanith White (the 2006 Olympic silver medalist) and Greg Zuerlein (the 2008 World junior champion). “It’s the only coaching change we’ve ever made. We have a lot to learn with all that comes with it,” said Parsons, 27. “It’s a much bigger adjustment than I was expecting, but we are both really excited about the direction we are taking. “Charlie, especially, has a profoundly unique perspective on competition, on skating and life, and the balance of training in general. “We have a lot to learn about what to…

The smile was back on Rika Kihira’s face as she took one small step on the journey back into the mix on the international competitive scene. For the 20-year-old from Japan, just dipping her toes into the Grand Prix waters at Skate Canada International once again was worthy of a celebration, given that her 2021-2022 season was completely wiped out by a stress fracture to her right foot. Kihira had been scheduled to compete at the same Grand Prix one year earlier, but the injury forced her to withdraw from both her Series events as well as the All Japan Championships. It was surely an exercise in massive frustration for a skater whose résumé includes a Grand Prix Final title in 2018, a pair of victories at the Four Continents Championships and two…

Kévin Aymoz was looking forward to the 2022-2023 season. After spending the summer working on two new programs and honing his quads, the five-time French champion was ready for battle. His campaign got off to a flying start in early September when he finished second at a Challenger Series event in the U.S., the first of five competitions he was scheduled to contest in the latter half of 2022. But disaster struck on Oct. 8 at French Masters in Villard-de-Lans when Aymoz tumbled to the ice on a triple loop attempt and suffered an ankle injury. “I left the competition in an ambulance and during my transport to a hospital, I was like, ‘I am quitting. I am tired. I do not see myself going to the end of the season,’” he recalled. Aymoz…

HER BIGGEST GOAL had been achieved, that cherished opportunity to skate on the sport’s biggest stage — the one with five rings emblazoned on the ice. While Young You embraced her Olympic moment in Beijing, a few months later, as the memories faded and the season-ending World Championships were behind her, the 18-year-old South Korean was faced with a question many ask themselves: What’s next? Young You fell in love with figure skating after watching her hero Yuna Kim bring home gold from the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. As a child, You’s family was based in Singapore and, following those Games, she begged her mother to let her try skating. Her passion for the sport was born at Kallang Ice World, the only ice rink in the country at that time. You’s Olympic journey began…

THERE WAS MUCH TO CELEBRATE AT THE JUNIOR GRAND PRIX FINAL. Skaters from nine countries qualified to compete in Torino, Italy, with the top guns from the Junior Grand Prix Series challenged — and sometimes overtaken — by others in the field. In the end, skaters from four nations stood atop the four podiums, with Japan and Italy capturing the singles crowns, and Canada and Australia winning the ice dance and pairs titles. HISTORIC WIN FOR ITALY Three Japanese, two American and one Italian man qualified for the Junior Grand Prix Final. All six came armed with triple Axels and two of the Japanese competitors attempted quad toes in the free skate. Lucas Broussard of the U.S. was the only man to win both his assignments this season and headed into the Final ranked first…