POSTED: Friday March 20th 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2009 Preview
Los Angeles, USA, on March 24
The 2009 ISU World Figure Skating Championships will open in Los Angeles, USA, on March 24. Los Angeles will host the World Figure Skating Championships for the first time. A new record number of 216 skaters from 52 ISU members have been entered for the Championships. Montenegro is represented for the first time in an ISU Championship. Brazil and Ireland will participate for the first time in an ISU World Championship.
Overview over the top contenders
Reigning World and Grand Prix Champion Mao Asada (JPN) is back to defend her title, but she will face stiff competition. Asada, who established a seasons best of 191.13 points at the NHK Trophy, lost to current World bronze medallist Yu-Na Kim (KOR) at the ISU Four Continents Championships last month. 18-year-old Kim has a seasons best of 193.54 points from Skate America earlier this season. After a successful season so far with podium finishes in all but one international event she entered, Joannie Rochette (CAN) is hoping to earn her first World medal. The two-time and reigning Four Continents silver medallist earned a seasons best of 188.89 points at Skate Canada. Current World silver medallist Carolina Kostner (ITA) is also aiming at a medal in Los Angeles. The two-time European Champion comes with a seasons best of 170.72 points to the World Championships. 2007 World Champion Miki Ando (JPN), who withdrew due to injury during her Free Skating at the World Championships last year, is back and ready to fight for a top spot again (seasons best 170.88 points). Other contenders include new European Champion Laura Lepistö (FIN/seasons best 167.32 points), 2008 World Junior Champion Rachael Flatt (USA/seasons best 166.06 points), 2006 World silver medallist Fumie Suguri (JPN/seasons best 167.74 points) as well as Cynthia Phaneuf (CAN/seasons best 169.41 points) and U.S. Champion Alissa Czisny (seasons best 159.81 points). 2009 World Junior Champion Alena Leonova (RUS/seasons best 157.18) debuts at the World Championship level.
With the retirement of 2008 World Champion Jeffrey Buttle (CAN), there definitely will be a new World Champion crowned in Los Angeles. A group of experienced veterans and talented young skaters promises an exciting battle for the title. 2007 World Champion and 2008 World silver medallist Brian Joubert (FRA) wants to return to the top of the podium in Los Angeles. The reigning European Champion has established a seasons best of 232.01 points at the European Championships in January. 2009 Four Continents Champion Patrick Chan (CAN) leads the non-European challengers. The 18-year-old won his first ISU Championships title in February with a new seasons best of 249.19 points. This is also the highest score any skater has achieved this season so far. SBS ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final Champion Jeremy Abbott (USA) is aiming at the podium as well. The U.S. Champion has had a break-through season and picked up a seasons best of 237.72 points at the Grand Prix Final. Two-time World bronze medallist Evan Lysacek (USA), runner-up to Chan at the Four Continents Championships, would like to add another medal to his collection and competes in his home town (seasons best 237.15 points). Japan’s hopes lie on the shoulders of current Four Continents bronze medallist Takahiko Kozuka (seasons best 230.78 points) and National Champion Nobunari Oda (seasons best 236.18 points). 2008 European Champion Tomas Verner (CZE) wants to redeem himself after finishing sixth at the European Championships (seasons best 222.94 points). Others to watch include the surprise European silver medallist Samuel Contesti (ITA/seasons best 220.92 points), European bronze medallist Kevin van der Perren (BEL/seasons best 219.36 points) and Yannick Ponsero (FRA/seasons best 219.30 points).
In the Pairs event, reigning World Champions Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy (GER) will have to fend off strong challenges from long-time rivals. The Germans took their third consecutive European title in January and come with a seasons best of 188.50 points to Los Angeles. However, Qing Pang/Jian Tong (CHN) are on the comeback-trail this season after finishing fifth at the 2008 World Championships. The 2006 World Champions from China beat Savchenko/Szolkowy at the Grand Prix Final and claimed their fourth Four Continents gold medal in February. They’ve posted the highest seasons best of any team so far with 194.94 points. After a slow start to the season, reigning World bronze medallists Jessica Dubé/Bryce Davison (CAN) took the silver medal at the Four Continents Championships and look ready to challenge the leaders (seasons best 185.62 points). Current World silver medallists Dan Zhang/Hao Zhang (CHN) want to go again after the title that has eluded them so far (seasons best 188.22 points). Other contenders include European silver medallists Yuko Kavaguti/Alexander Smirnov (RUS/seasons best 176.97 points), European bronze medallists Maria Mukhortova/Maxim Trankov (RUS/seasons best 170.87 points), Tatiana Volosozhar/Stanislav Morozov (UKR/seasons best 175.83 points) and 2007 World Junior Champions Keauna McLaughlin/Rockne Brubaker (USA/seasons best 172.69).
The Ice Dance event promises to be a tight and exciting competition. Jana Khokhlova/Sergei Novitski (RUS) won their first European title in January and racked up the highest total score this season so far at 196.91 points. Reigning World silver medallists Tessa Virtue/Scott Moir (CAN) got a seasons best of 191.81 points at the Four Continents Championships, where they debuted in international competition this season. There, they were beaten by Meryl Davis/Charlie White (USA), who claimed the first ISU Championships title of their career at the Four Continents (seasons best 192.39 points). 2008 European Champions and Grand Prix Final silver medallists Oksana Domnina/Maxim Shabalin (RUS) will return to the World Championships after missing the event last year due to his knee injury and hope to win their first World medal (seasons best 186.77 points). They are joined by three-time World medallists Tanith Belbin/Benjamin Agosto (USA) who withdrew from the SBS ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in December and finished fourth at the 2008 World Championships. The American couple finally wants to take the gold at Worlds (seasons best 186.53 points). Other challengers in Los Angeles include reigning European silver medallists Federica Faiella/Massimo Scali (ITA/seasons best 186.17 points), European bronze medallists Sinead Kerr/John Kerr (GBR/seasons best 185.20 points) and Nathalie Pechalat/Fabian Bourzat (FRA/seasons best 184.84 points). 2008 World Junior Champions Emily Samuelson/Evan Bates (USA), who took the bronze medal in their debut at the Four Continents Championships, will enter their first World Championships (seasons best 180.79 points).
2008 World Champions Isabelle Delobel/Olivier Schoenfelder (FRA) have withdrawn from the event as Delobel suffered from a shoulder injury and underwent surgery in early January.
Please note that for the seasonal best total scores only the ISU Grand Prix competitions (senior and junior) have been taken into consideration, not other international competitions or National Championships.
Prize money and World Standings Bonus
The ISU awards a global prize money of US$ 710,000 at the World Figure Skating Championships to skaters/couples placed 1st to 12th. The prize money is awarded to winners and placed skaters/couples as follows:
Men and Ladies
1st place US$ 45,000
2nd place US$ 27,000
3rd place US$ 18,000
4th place US$ 13,000
5th place US$ 10,000
6th place US$ 7,000
7th place US$ 6,000
8th place US$ 5,000
9th place US$ 3,500
10th place US$ 3,000
11th place US$ 2,500
12th place US$ 2,000
By competing in the ISU World Figure Skating Championships the athletes earn points towards the World Standings as well. The three skaters/couples per discipline having earned most World Standing points during the 2008/2009 season will be awarded with the World Standings Bonus. The following amounts will be awarded to the concerned skaters/couples:
Ladies & Men
1st: US$ 45,000
2nd: US$ 27,000
3rd: US$ 18,000
So far, Tomas Verner is leading the Men’s standings with 1824 points ahead of Takahiko Kozuka (1800 points) and Patrick Chan (1765 points). Carolina Kostner has 2054 points and is ahead of Yu-Na Kim (1960 points) and Mao Aasa (1880 points). Savchenko/Szolkowy have 2138 points while Qing Pang/Jian Tong got 2040 points so far. Currently in third place are Yuko Kavaguti/Alexander Smirnov (RUS) at 1931 points. Meryl Davis/Charlie White lead the bonus race for the ice dancers with 1888 points with Federica Faiella/Massimo Scali (1739 points) and Sinead Kerr/John Kerr (1578 points) following in second and third.
The schedule of the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2009 is as follows:
Tuesday, March 24: Compulsory Dance, Pairs Short Program
Wednesday, March 25: Men’s Short Program, Pairs Free Skating
Thursday, March 26: Original Dance, Men’s Free Skating
Friday, March 27: Ladies Short Program, Free Dance
Saturday, March 28: Ladies Free Skating
Sunday, March 29: Exhibition Gala
For more information, full entry lists and results please see: www.isu.org and http://www.isuworlds2009.com/
For further information please contact:
ISU Media Coordinator
Devra Pitt-Getaz
+41 21 6126666
email: pitt@isu.ch
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Keywords · ISU · ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2009
Name: Devra Pitt-getaz
Organization: ISU
Email:
Phone: +41 21 612 66 66
URL: http://www.isu.org/
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